Better Burn Llc/Startube Div EXEC 162F N333ST

Summary

On 16 April 2009 at about 15:22 local time, a Better Burn Llc/Startube Div EXEC 162F registered N333ST, operated by RotorWay International, was involved in an accident near Chandler, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 April 2009 at 15:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Chandler, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Chandler Municipal Arpt (CHD)

Coordinates

33.2744, -111.8042

Aircraft

Better Burn Llc/Startube Div EXEC 162F

Registration

N333ST

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

RotorWay International

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chandler → Chandler

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09CA198

1 person had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and delay in taking remedial action to prevent the helicopter from touching down while drifting. Contributing to the accident was the design of the skid shoes.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor said the student was practicing a stable hover at 2 to 3 feet altitude, when the helicopter descended with a slight drift to the right. The student said he made a correction and thought the helicopter might touch the ground and lift up again. When the right skid contacted the taxiway, the right rear skid shoe stuck in the asphalt surface and the aircraft rolled right, pivoting on the right skid. The flight instructor immediately bottomed the collective and pushed the cyclic left; however, the aircraft continued to roll onto its right side. Subsequently, the tail boom was bent up and partially separated, the windscreen structure was broken, the main rotor blades were damaged, and the fuselage was wrinkled. The flight instructor said the helicopter belonged to Rotorway, the kit manufacturer, and was used for factory flight training. The company had equipped the skids with prototype skid shoes approximately 10 inches in length that were flat and extended laterally beyond the skids. When the aircraft touched the ground with lateral movement, the aft right skid shoe dug into the asphalt causing the aircraft to roll right. The flight instructor said that after this accident, the company modified the skid shoe design by rounding the shoes to conform to the landing skids.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.