Rotorway DB-1 N828X

Summary

On 13 December 2012 at about 21:30 local time, a Rotorway DB-1 registered N828X, operated by Barnett Douglas E, was involved in an accident near Mayland, Tennessee, 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

13 December 2012 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mayland, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Carey Airport (TN56)

Coordinates

36.0722, -85.1139

Aircraft

Rotorway DB-1

Registration

N828X

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Barnett Douglas E

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mayland → Mayland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA087

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control following a high-side governor failure for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was hover-taxiing an experimental amateur-built helicopter about 3 feet above ground level when the engine suddenly accelerated, and the helicopter started to gyrate violently. An engine power increase such as this is indicative of a high-side governor failure, which requires immediate reaction to maintain control of the helicopter. The pilot attempted to maintain control of the helicopter, but it began to drift to the left where his truck and trailer where parked. To avoid a collision with the truck, the pilot raised the collective to climb over the truck. Once clear of the truck, the pilot lowered the collective and landed on a downward slope. The helicopter impacted the ground with the right skid and rolled over on its left side, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking the ground. The pilot, who was also the owner/operator, had installed an aftermarket governor and had logged a total of 0.5 hour in the helicopter before the accident. The governor was examined and appeared to have been installed correctly. It could not be determined why the governor failed. The pilot had attended transition training for this helicopter, but it did not cover governor failures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.