Rotorway ROTORWAY 162F EXEC N162RS

Summary

On 6 May 2000 at about 14:10 local time, a Rotorway ROTORWAY 162F EXEC registered N162RS was involved in an accident near McMurray, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 May 2000 at 14:10

Classification

Accident

Location

McMurray, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.2602, -80.1796

Aircraft

Rotorway ROTORWAY 162F EXEC

Registration

N162RS

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Allegheny → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD00LA039

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision to hover out of ground effect which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot hovered the helicopter out of ground effect about 200-300 feet above ground level. While in the hover, the helicopter began a slow turn to the left even with full right anti-torque pedal applied. The pilot was not aware of his rotor RPM or heading when the helicopter began to turn. He attempted to recover by lowering the collective, but continued to lose altitude. The pilot landed on a sloped hillside and the helicopter rolled over on to its right side. On scene examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical deficiencies. Review of the flight manual's height velocity envelope revealed that the pilot operated in an area where out of ground effect hovers should have been avoided.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.