Rotorway ROTORWAY EXEC 90 N9876D

Summary

On 25 February 2002 at about 21:30 local time, a Rotorway ROTORWAY EXEC 90 registered N9876D was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, 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

25 February 2002 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.2767, -112.1181

Aircraft

Rotorway ROTORWAY EXEC 90

Registration

N9876D

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chandler → Chandler

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA096

Nobody was injured.

The student's inadvertent over control of the throttle mechanism, which resulted in the bending of the throttle mechanical stop and binding the linkage in the idle position. Also causal was the CFI's inadequate supervision. A factor in the accident was the CFI's inability to add engine power due to the bent throttle mechanism during a practice autorotation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental helicopter made a hard landing following a practice autorotation and loss of engine power. During the third practice autorotation, the student informed the instructor that he was unable to reintroduce power during the autorotation recovery. The instructor took control of the helicopter and attempted to roll the throttle up; however, he found it would not rotate any further. The instructor raised the collective at 10 feet agl in an attempt to cushion the landing. The helicopter hit the ground hard, the left skid collapsed, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. Examination of the helicopter revealed the mechanical stop for the throttle was bent causing a condition in which the engine would stay at ground idle once the throttle was rolled past over center near the ground idle position. Once the linkage was driven over center, the linkage could not be moved by the throttle control A post accident run of the engine revealed no additional anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.