Sidler Mike ROTORWAY N1934

Summary

On 27 June 2009 at about 16:45 local time, a Sidler Mike ROTORWAY registered N1934, operated by Sidler Mike, was involved in an accident near Waxahachie, Texas, United States. One person was 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

27 June 2009 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Waxahachie, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Mid-Way Regional Airport (KJWY)

Coordinates

32.4536, -96.9075

Aircraft

Sidler Mike ROTORWAY

Registration

N1934

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Sidler Mike

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waxahachie → Waxahachie

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA394

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to control his rate of descent during autorotation, which required an aggressive recovery maneuver and resulted in a sudden loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a practice 180-degree power recovery autorotation in a helicopter with a clockwise rotating main rotor with a right crosswind of three knots. The pilot said he had a higher than expected rate of descent as he was flaring at zero airspeed and attempting a power recovery to terminate at a skid height of approximately 15 feet above ground level. Suddenly, and without warning the pilot lost directional control, the helicopter began to spin nose left, and his application of full right pedal had no effect. The pilot said he tried to keep the helicopter level while it was spinning, but it eventually impacted on the left side of the taxiway. The helicopter was substantially damaged when the left skid gear partially collapsed and the airframe and tail boom buckled. During the impact sequence the main rotor blades struck the tail boom and the main rotor blades and tail rotor blades struck the ground. An on-scene investigation by an FAA maintenance inspector confirmed flight control continuity and confirmed no apparent damage to the tail rotor drive belts. There was no post-crash fire and the pilot received minor injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.