Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

N Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
Saturday, August 23, 1997 10:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he satisfactorily completed a pre-takeoff check, which included checking the exhaust gas temperature gage for correct temperatures. He then departed into the wind. The pilot reported that about 50 feet AGL, and airspeed about 30 to 40 mph, he noticed the main rotor slowing down and he added power with no results. He entered autorotation, but the rotor speed was inadequate to perform a successful autorotation, and the helicopter touched down hard. An engine examination revealed a half inch crack within a welded seam in the mid section of the exhaust manifold. The pilot reported that the exhaust manifold was delivered from the factory with the weld. The helicopter had a total of 56 hours since new.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A leak on the exhaust manifold which resulted in a loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City N PHILADELPHIA
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44663
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 8
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 895
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1051 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID CAK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1228
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1772
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 23 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1338
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7240E
NTSB Number IAD97LA113
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 HAINES
Aircraft Model REVOLUTION MINI 500
Aircraft Series Identifier REVOLUTION
Aircraft Serial Number 0362
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 26 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 56
Airframe Hours 56
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN P HAINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6669 BUCKHORN RD
Aircraft Owner City NEWCOMERSTOWN
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43832
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PHD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --