Richard S Anderson ROTORWAY EXEC 162F N30545

Summary

On 27 January 2002 at about 21:06 local time, a Richard S Anderson ROTORWAY EXEC 162F registered N30545 was involved in an accident near Willcox, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 January 2002 at 21:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Willcox, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Pvt Helipad

Coordinates

32.4167, -109.8333

Aircraft

Richard S Anderson ROTORWAY EXEC 162F

Registration

N30545

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willcox → Willcox

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA071

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to compensate for a gust condition and to maintain lateral control while hovering due to restricted cyclic control movement, which resulted from an inadequate control location/design.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While hovering in ground effect in a 10 mph wind, a 20 mph gust was encountered. The pilot attempted to maintain control by movement of the cyclic control, but the helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over. In a verbal statement, the pilot asserted that when he had attempted to move the cycle control to the right to stabilize the helicopter, his right hand contacted his right thigh, which was against the installed right side collective control. He asserted that this momentarily restricted his available range of cycle movement. The helicopter then drifted left, impacted the ground, and rolled over. The pilot's flight instructor had authorized his student to fly in wind conditions not exceeding 10 mph.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.