Rotorway EXEC-90 N7456T

Summary

On 28 December 1993 at about 18:20 local time, a Rotorway EXEC-90 registered N7456T, operated by Cobb International, was involved in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and 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

28 December 1993 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.6107, -111.8892

Aircraft

Rotorway EXEC-90

Registration

N7456T

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Cobb International

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Chandler

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA083

1 person had minor injuries.

A failure of the pilot-in-command to adequately conduct a preflight inspection and properly secure a fuselage cowling panel that struck a tail rotor blade, resulting in a subsequent failure of the tail rotor drive system. Factors in this accident were an in-flight separation of the cowling panel, and the inability of the pilot to effect directional control of the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER WAS EXAMINED BY THE FAA AND ISSUED AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED ON A FERRY FLIGHT OF TWO HELICOPTERS TO RETURN TO THE HELICOPTER COMPANY BUILDING. AFTER DEPARTURE, THE SECOND AIRCRAFT OBSERVED AN OBJECT GO THROUGH THE ROTOR SYSTEM OF THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER. THE PILOT BEGAN A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, EXPERIENCED AN ANTI-TORQUE SYSTEM FAILURE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, A POSTCRASH FIRE CONSUMED 2/3 OF THE AIRCRAFT. ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY A FIBERGLASS COWLING PANEL THAT WAS LATER LOCATED ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.