Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901
Thursday, July 27, 1995 9:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amateur-built helicopter was conducting a demonstration flight during the annual EAA convention. During the first flight after re-jetting of the carburetor, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power. During the autorotation into a crop field, the helicopter was substantially damaged when the skid shoes caught in the terrain, failing the left skid and fracturing the shoe on that skid. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the rear piston had seized in the cylinder. The owner of the company which produces the helicopter stated that the re-jetting of the carburetor was made in an attempt to achieve what were thought to be correct readings in main rotor RPM and EGT after replacement of both gauges. The company owner attributed the piston seizure to the re-jetting. The skid shoes were new and had been tested only on concrete. The owner said that the design contributed to the damage to the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the inadequate design of the helicopter skid shoes. Factors related to the accident were: false indications of rotor rpm and EGT which led to seizure of the piston.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City OSHKOSH
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54901
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID OSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1624
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 27 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N500ZZ
NTSB Number CHI95FA242
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name REVOLUTION HELICOPTER
Aircraft Model MINI-500
Aircraft Series Identifier MINI-500
Aircraft Serial Number 0000
Certified Max Gross Weight 840
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 210
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REVOLUTION HELICOPTER CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1905 W. JESSE JAMES RD.
Aircraft Owner City ECELSIOR SPR.
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 64024
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OSH
Departure City
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 920
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --