Austin REVOLUTION MINI 500 N2XK

Summary

On 11 August 1998 at about 22:32 local time, a Austin REVOLUTION MINI 500 registered N2XK was involved in an accident near Northampton, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 1998 at 22:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Northampton, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.8609, -75.2010

Aircraft

Austin REVOLUTION MINI 500

Registration

N2XK

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bangor → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD98FA092

1 person died.

the improper maintenance adjustment and the failure to properly torque the pitch-change link barrel by the owner/builder which resulted in main rotor to tailboom contact and main rotor separation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed his home in the home-built helicopter on a maintenance test flight. The purpose of the flight was to track the main rotor system after repair and re-assembly of the helicopter. The main transmission, transmission mast, main rotor system, and tailboom and associated components had been replaced following a rollover accident. The pilot changed the blade track by adjustment of the pitch change links during ground runs prior to takeoff. Witnesses to the accident reported unusual sounds from the helicopter before two sharp reports and an uncontrolled descent. One main rotor blade was found 400 feet from the main wreckage. Examination of the wreckage revealed rotor to tailboom contact. Fracture separation of one rotor blade and fracture of the pitch horn on the same side were due to overload. The pitch change link barrel was loose on the fractured horn with no torque applied to the barrel nuts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.