Read ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE N4561C

Summary

On 13 May 1998 at about 23:10 local time, a Read ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE registered N4561C was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, 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

13 May 1998 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Porter County Municipal (VPZ)

Coordinates

41.4694, -87.0510

Aircraft

Read ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE

Registration

N4561C

Category

Helicopter

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

CHI98LA152

Nobody was injured.

the pilot not maintaining adequate clearance with the ground during hover. Factors which contributed to this accident were the pilot's execution of a hovering turn at too low of an altitude, inadequate preflight preparation, and failing to remove the transport wheels from the helicopter skids prior to flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot pushed the helicopter out of the hangar, preflighted it, started it, and warmed it up to operating minimums. He lifted off of the ground to an approximate height of 12 inches. That is when he heard a 'clunk' from behind him. The pilot said that he thought that something might have gone through the tail rotor, so he turned the helicopter to the left 180 degrees. Seeing nothing, the pilot decided to set down. At that point, the helicopter pitched over on it's right side. The pilot said that he 'neglected to remove the transport wheels' before flight. Examination of the helicopter revealed that both transport wheels were installed on the skids.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.