Wilkinson Daniel V ROTORWAY EXEC 90 N52988

Summary

On 28 April 2007 at about 16:52 local time, a Wilkinson Daniel V ROTORWAY EXEC 90 registered N52988 was involved in an accident near Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 April 2007 at 16:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

42.2889, -85.7500

Aircraft

Wilkinson Daniel V ROTORWAY EXEC 90

Registration

N52988

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalamazoo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI07CA124

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the sprag clutch which resulted in the disengagement of the drive unit and the pilot's misjudged landing during the autorotation. A factor was the low altitude at which the failure occurred.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire while attempting an auto-rotation after a mechanical failure. The pilot stated that he was practicing takeoffs, hovering, and quick stops above the runway. After takeoff, at about 50 feet and 50mph, he lowered the collective to initiate a quick stop. At this point the engine RPM revved up out of control. He pulled up on the collective to re-engage the drive system, but the system would not engage. He entered into an auto-rotation, and as he neared the ground the helicopter began to slide sideways, folding the skids under the helicopter. The helicopter then rolled on its side, and the occupants climbed out prior to the post crash fire. Subsequent examination of the helicopter's drive system revealed that the drive shafts, pulleys, and drive belts were intact. The only device within the helicopter drive system that could not be determined to be in working condition was the sprag clutch which transmits engine power to the rotor drive system. The sprag clutch was not examined during the course of the investigation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.