Sportsman Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newberg, Oregon 97132
Wednesday, January 28, 1998 15:50 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had just lifted off and attained an altitude of about 20 feet, when the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated an autorotation near the end of the airpark. The pilot stated that the helicopter was yawed slightly to the left on touchdown to a plowed muddy area. The right side landing skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled over. Inspection of the engine revealed that one of the two cylinders would not hold compression. Further inspection found evidence of overheating and damage to the rings on the piston. The pilot reported that the engine had been experiencing heating problems, and that he had also modified the carburetor.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a power loss resulting from overtemperature of a cylinder. The pilot's operation with known deficiencies was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/28/1998
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City NEWBERG
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97132
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SPORTSMAN AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2S6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 178
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 176
Weather Observation Facility ID MMV
Elevation of weather observation facility 159
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 127
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 28 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1625
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 10:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N500YY
NTSB Number SEA98LA030
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 Raser
Aircraft Model MINI 500
Aircraft Series Identifier MINI 500
Aircraft Serial Number 298
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 Sep 22 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 48
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RALPH W. RASER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 24100 S. SKYLANE DR.
Aircraft Owner City CANBY
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97013
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CANBY
Destination State OR
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 2745
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --