Cunningham ROTORWAY EXEC N18WC

Summary

On 13 October 1996 at about 00:55 local time, a Cunningham ROTORWAY EXEC registered N18WC was involved in an accident near Mather, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 October 1996 at 00:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Mather, California, United States

Nearest airport

Sacrmento Mather (MHR)

Coordinates

38.5402, -121.2810

Aircraft

Cunningham ROTORWAY EXEC

Registration

N18WC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA014

1 person died.

excessive maneuvering by the pilot, which allowed the main rotor blades to contact and sever the tail rotor system and allowed mast bumping to occur.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of a home built helicopter was attempting to drop an object (bag of flour) to a target on the ground. Approaching the target area, the helicopter was observed to maneuver, then it went out of control and crashed. Investigation revealed evidence that the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tailboom. Also, there was evidence of mast bumping. The helicopter was equipped with composite main rotor blades; kit/factory approved blades were made of metal. No mechanical malfunction was found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.