Lutke ROTOWAY EXEC 90 N1183M

Summary

On 22 July 2000 at about 19:35 local time, a Lutke ROTOWAY EXEC 90 registered N1183M was involved in an accident near Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

22 July 2000 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

42.2991, -85.7007

Aircraft

Lutke ROTOWAY EXEC 90

Registration

N1183M

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI00LA215

Nobody was injured.

the loss of main rotor rpm due to the failure of the top engine mount and the subsequent loss of the main rotor drive belt tension. A factor was the confined area landing zone.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported he was flying his experimental helicopter about 700 feet above ground level in cruise flight when the top motor mount made of cast aluminum broke. He reported that the belt tension to the main rotor was lost and he was unable to maintain rotor rpm. He executed an autorotation to a small back yard surrounded by trees. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor blades flexed down and chopped off the tailboom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.