Plane Crash List

Dennis L Fetters MINI 500 N500ZZ

25 June 1992 · Missouri City, Missouri, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 25 June 1992 at about 12:00 local time, a Dennis L Fetters MINI 500 registered N500ZZ, operated by Dennis L. Fetters, was involved in an accident near Missouri City, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 12:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Missouri City, Missouri, United States
Nearest airport
Liberty Landing
Coordinates
39.2404, -94.4103
Aircraft
Dennis L Fetters MINI 500
Registration
N500ZZ
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Dennis L. Fetters
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI92DCG04

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

AN IMPROPER CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN MECHANICAL BINDING BETWEEN THE ROD AND THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER WAS PERFORMING TEST FLIGHTS USING VARIOUS FLIGHT ATTITUDES TO CHANGE AIRFLOW PATTERNS THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS TOO FAST AND TOO LOW TO COMPLETE A SMOOTH LANDING. DURING TOUCHDOWN THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE BORE DIAMETER ON THE CONNECTING ROD WAS INCORRECT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE CRANKSHAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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All 170,864 records in United States