D & D ROTORWAY EXEC N614S

Summary

On 23 April 2011 at about 19:41 local time, a D & D ROTORWAY EXEC registered N614S, operated by Dubert JAY, was involved in an accident near Massillon, Ohio, 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

23 April 2011 at 19:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Massillon, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

40.7969, -81.5211

Aircraft

D & D ROTORWAY EXEC

Registration

N614S

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Dubert JAY

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beach City → Massillon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA305

1 person had minor injuries.

The excessive wear on the secondary shaft, from the inner bearing race, which resulted in the transmission clutch disengagement and a loss of power to the rotor system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during cruise flight the engine speed increased to a high rpm and power was no longer being transmitted to the rotor system. He initiated an autorotation to a sloping, plowed field that was soft due to recent rain. The tail struck the ground during the landing flare and the main rotor blades contacted the tailboom. Postaccident inspection of the helicopter revealed the inner race of the bearing on the secondary shaft, located above the transmission clutch, was worn into the shaft, which most likely caused the clutch to disengage. This prevented the engine power from being translated to the main rotor. The cause of the wear was undetermined, and the secondary shaft was designed by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.