Rallison ROTORWAY 162F N203XR

Summary

On 18 June 2007 at about 21:00 local time, a Rallison ROTORWAY 162F registered N203XR, operated by Richard D. Rallison, was involved in an accident near Logan, Utah, 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

18 June 2007 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Logan, Utah, United States

Coordinates

41.7128, -111.8419

Aircraft

Rallison ROTORWAY 162F

Registration

N203XR

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Richard D. Rallison

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Logan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07CA167

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to the pilot inadvertently deactivating the rotor drive clutch assembly. A contributing factor was the downhill terrain condition where he landed, which exceeded the slope limitations of the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was maneuvering at low altitude to take pictures of his neighbor's business. Suddenly the helicopter's engine "raced free of load", the needles split and he began an autorotation. The aircraft landed with its right skid up slope, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The pilot's postaccident examination of the control panel revealed that he had inadvertently deactivated the aircraft's electric clutch by striking its overhead toggle switch with his head. The helicopter's main rotor blades, one tail rotor blade, right landing skid, left horizontal stabilizer, and the tail boom were bent. The landing skid on the left side collapsed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.