Rotorway 162 F N426DM

Summary

On 4 July 2024 at about 14:43 local time, a Rotorway 162 F registered N426DM was involved in an accident near Maybee, 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

4 July 2024 at 14:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Maybee, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Willow Run (YIP)

Coordinates

42.0039, -83.5155

Aircraft

Rotorway 162 F

Registration

N426DM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belleville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA249

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that his preflight inspection of the experimental helicopter revealed no anomalies. About one hour into the flight, the engine and rotor rpm started to drop. When the pilot adjusted the collective and throttle, rotor rpm surged, and engine rpm began to fluctuate. The pilot selected a field and performed a precautionary autorotation. During the touch down, the helicopter’s skids dug into the soft soil and the helicopter spun, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and the tail boom. The pilot and the passenger exited the helicopter uninjured. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that fuel remained in the fuel tanks. Examination of the fuel-injected engine did not detect any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A roll of blue masking tape was found in the engine cooling shroud, but not in an area that would have interfered with engine operation. Given the lack of anomalies found during the postaccident examination, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.