Porat RAF-200 N313EP

Summary

On 18 April 1998 at about 17:30 local time, a Porat RAF-200 registered N313EP was involved in an accident near Hollister, California, United States. One person was 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

18 April 1998 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hollister, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hollister (307)

Coordinates

37.3009, -122.0891

Aircraft

Porat RAF-200

Registration

N313EP

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA138

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor in this accident is the pilot's lack of experience in type aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he felt a strong vibration from the main rotor. He stated that the engine was running fine and opined that the vibration may have been caused by an uncoordinated turn. He further stated that 'he spent too much time trying to find out the source of the vibration and forgot to fly the [aircraft].' At this time he was about 200 feet agl and didn't feel that he had enough time to recover any altitude, so he decided to slow [himself] down by landing in an area of bushes. The aircraft then collided with the terrain. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with single and multiengine land ratings. The pilot reported that he had received approximately 9 hours of dual instruction in helicopters, all in the accident aircraft. This was the pilot's second solo flight in the accident aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.