Tjerrild ROTORWAY EXEC N777TJ

Summary

On 31 July 2004 at about 00:00 local time, a Tjerrild ROTORWAY EXEC registered N777TJ, operated by Bradley Alan Deckert, was involved in an accident near Eureka, Illinois, 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

31 July 2004 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Eureka, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

40.6833, -89.2744

Aircraft

Tjerrild ROTORWAY EXEC

Registration

N777TJ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Bradley Alan Deckert

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eureka → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04CA206

Nobody was injured.

The in-flight loss of engine power due to the disconnection of the high tension wire from its ignition coil during cruise flight and the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during his forced landing. A factor was the low altitude the helicopter was cruising at when the power loss occured.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental amateur-built helicopter sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain and crops during a forced landing, following an in-flight loss of engine power. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot stated, "Established level cruise at 1000 MSL and 70 mph. Engine stopped without warning. Executed an auto rotate into corn field below. As main rotors entered corn the aircraft yawed left and stopped partially tipped over on left side. No injuries." An inspection of the wreckage revealed that the high-tension wire from the ignition coil was detached. The helicopter was not modified with the kit manufacturer's service bulletin for its conversion to a dual ignition system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.