West REVOLUTION MINI 500 N20925
3 September 2005 · Ida, Michigan, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 September 2005 at about 17:15 local time, a West REVOLUTION MINI 500 registered N20925 was involved in an accident near Ida, Michigan, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 17:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ida, Michigan, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lada (86G)
- Coordinates
- 41.8550, -83.5914
- Aircraft
- West REVOLUTION MINI 500
- Registration
- N20925
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Petersburg → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI05CA267
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's abrupt (improper) control action which resulted in the main rotor contacting the tail boom. Contributing factors were the false indication provided by the engine tachometer, the pilot's decision to immediately initiate an autorotation instead of performing a precautionary landing, and the corn field encountered during landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that the amateur-built helicopter was in cruise flight at 1,750 feet mean sea level when the main rotor contacted the tail boom. He stated that the engine tachometer began indicating near the high operating limit. At the same time the rotor tachometer was indicating near the low operating limit. His attempt to correct the condition was not successful. The pilot stated that he lowered the collective and the helicopter pitched forward. He reported that when he compensated for the forward pitch the main rotor blades struck the tail boom. He then turned into the wind and entered an autorotation. The pilot stated that a post accident examination revealed that the engine tachometer was providing false indications and improperly indicated an engine overspeed condition.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 2005 | Becker RAF 2000 | Gladwin, Michigan, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Apr 2005 | Franz RV-6 | Howell, Michigan, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 2005 | McClintock GLASAIR SH-2 | Port Huron, Michigan, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2005 | Allied Ag Cat Productions G-164A | Trufant, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 May 2005 | Cessna 172S | Port Huron, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 2005 | Cessna TU206G | West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |