Rotorway 162F N771SS

Summary

On 24 May 2008 at about 19:30 local time, a Rotorway 162F registered N771SS, operated by Jonathan Houser, was involved in an accident near Gonzales, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 May 2008 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gonzales, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.5306, -97.4567

Aircraft

Rotorway 162F

Registration

N771SS

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Jonathan Houser

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gonzales → Gonzales

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08CA152

1 person was seriously injured.

failure of the main rotor drive belt for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and his passenger had just departed in a single-engine experimental helicopter when he heard a "loud pop" followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot entered an autorotation from an altitude of 75 feet and flared at approximately 40 feet above the ground to avoid hitting trees. The helicopter landed hard in a grass field and the skids were spread upon impact. The two occupants were able to deplane before the engine exhaust caught the surrounding grass on fire, and subsequently destroyed the helicopter. The pilot reported that the main drive belt, which he had been recently replaced, had failed. The helicopter wreckage was examined by an FAA inspector; however, the drive belt could not be located and it was assumed to have been destroyed in the post-impact fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.