Omlin Robert G EXEC 162F ROTORWAY N385AR

Summary

On 5 July 2012 at about 00:09 local time, a Omlin Robert G EXEC 162F ROTORWAY registered N385AR, operated by Omlin Robert G, was involved in an accident near Quincy, Washington, 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

5 July 2012 at 00:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Quincy, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.1707, -119.7993

Aircraft

Omlin Robert G EXEC 162F ROTORWAY

Registration

N385AR

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Omlin Robert G

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Quincy → Quincy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA294

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to ensure that a flag attached to the landing skid was properly secured, which resulted in its in-flight separation and contact with the tail rotor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before departure, he attached a 3-foot by 4-foot American flag to the landing skids of the helicopter. Following an uneventful takeoff, he climbed to an altitude of about 200 feet above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the flag disconnected from the skids and impacted the tail rotor. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a nearby field. Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed that about half of the tail boom and tail rotor assembly had separated. The pilot reported that before the flag separated, no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter existed that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.