Gray Jim Robert EXEC 90 N716JB

Summary

On 19 October 2016 at about 15:10 local time, a Gray Jim Robert EXEC 90 registered N716JB was involved in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho, United States. One person was 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

19 October 2016 at 15:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Caldwell, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Caldwell Industrial (EUL)

Coordinates

43.6419, -116.6358

Aircraft

Gray Jim Robert EXEC 90

Registration

N716JB

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Caldwell → Caldwell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17LA009

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to properly tighten the tension bolts during the installation of the alternator belt, which resulted in inadequate voltage to sustain ignition and the subsequent partial loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff for the personal flight, about 15 to 20 ft above ground level, the experimental amateur-built helicopter suddenly yawed right, followed by a partial loss of engine power. The private pilot then performed a partial nose-up, collective-down maneuver, but due to the low altitude and not being able to maintain sufficient rotor rpm, he chose to land in soft dirt off the side of the runway; the helicopter landed hard. The pilot had recently changed the alternator belt. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that, during the maintenance, the pilot failed to properly tighten the tension bolts, which resulted in inadequate voltage to sustain ignition and the subsequent partial loss of engine power.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.