Siemens ROTORWAY EXEC 162F N104BJ

Summary

On 5 October 2013 at about 15:15 local time, a Siemens ROTORWAY EXEC 162F registered N104BJ was involved in an accident near Nampa, Idaho, 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

5 October 2013 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Nampa, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

43.5772, -116.6158

Aircraft

Siemens ROTORWAY EXEC 162F

Registration

N104BJ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Caldwell → Caldwell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA006

1 person had minor injuries.

A flight control malfunction during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined. No follow-up examination was conducted due to a lapse in agency funding and subsequent government shutdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 500 feet above ground level (agl), the cyclic control seemed to require a higher than normal input. He changed speed, however, that seemed to make it worse. The pilot was over a field and entered a 180 degree autorotation to lose altitude. At the completion of the autorotation, forward velocity had dissipated and the lateral movement to the left increased even with full right cyclic input. The helicopter collided with trees that bordered the field and subsequently rolled over onto its left side after touchdown. The fuselage and tailboom were substantially damaged.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.