Bielawa ROTORWAY E N3213K
16 July 2009 · Sequim, Washington, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 16 July 2009 at about 00:30 local time, a Bielawa ROTORWAY E registered N3213K, operated by R L Bielawa Associates Inc, was involved in an accident near Sequim, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. 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 00:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sequim, Washington, United States
- Nearest airport
- Sequim Valley (W28)
- Coordinates
- 48.0978, -123.1853
- Aircraft
- Bielawa ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N3213K
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- R L Bielawa Associates Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Sequim → Sequim
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR09LA350
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure (disbonding) of a composite main rotor blade for undetermined reasons, leading to an immediate loss of control in flight during hover.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
During a stationary low hover of the recently built experimental helicopter, it suddenly and without warning rotated rapidly in a counter-clockwise direction around its longitudinal axis, and immediately impacted the ground. The investigation determined that one of the main rotor blades had failed (disbonded), leading to an immediate loss of control in flight. The composite blade, which was designed specifically for use on one manufacturer's experimental helicopter, was being used on another manufacturer's experimental helicopter, as allowed by its experimental designation. Due to the lack of sufficient engineering, manufacturing, and testing data, the precise initiating factor of the disbonding event could not be determined.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2009 | Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR | Snohomish, Washington, United States | Snohomish Flying Service Inc | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 2009 | Cessna 172P | Renton, Washington, United States | Boeing Employees Flying Assoc Inc | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Smith Albert F CHALLENGER TWO | Moses Lake, Washington, United States | Angel Wings Aviation LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 2009 | Morgan James E MORGAN RV6 | Everett, Washington, United States | Morgan James E | No injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 2009 | Piper PA-12 | Burlington, Washington, United States | Bruce L. Heiner | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Apr 2009 | Goodacre CA4-HP | Mansfield, Washington, United States | James D. Dunn | Minor injuries | - |