Geoffrion ROTORWAY EXEC 162 N198BG

Summary

On 29 February 2004 at about 18:00 local time, a Geoffrion ROTORWAY EXEC 162 registered N198BG was involved in an accident near Medina, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 February 2004 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Medina, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

41.1239, -81.8619

Aircraft

Geoffrion ROTORWAY EXEC 162

Registration

N198BG

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atwater → Medina

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04LA079

2 people were seriously injured.

A failure of the helicopter's tail rotor drive system for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The amateur built helicopter was in cruise flight at an altitude 1,100 feet above the ground, when the pilot heard a pop and loud bang. He immediately initiated an autorotation and felt that he had the helicopter under control, until it began to pitch down. Due to strong vibrations, the pilot was not able to read any of the instruments, including rotor RPM. The helicopter struck trees and came to rest in a residential area. During the impact, a main rotor blade struck the tail boom in the area of the horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom was severed, the tail rotor drive pulley was split in half, the tail rotor drive belts were broken, and the third bulkhead was fractured into several pieces. All of the main rotor drive belts and pulleys remained attached. Continuity of the cyclic and collective controls was confirmed; and no engine abnormalities were noted. One tail rotor blade was severed at the pitch pin. Both tail rotor blades exhibited dents; however, they did not display the rearward bending of spar and skin that would be consistent with blade rotation at impact. Due to the impact damage, the pre-impact condition of the tail rotor drive system could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.