Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kirkland, Washington 98034
Thursday, August 13, 1992 17:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT JUST AFTER LIFT OFF FROM A DOCK, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE WATER LEVEL AND 200 YARDS FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT, THE CYCLIC CONTROL BECAME VERY STIFF AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DOCK, HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM THE LANDING AREA, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS. DUE TO THE RESTRICTED LANDING AREA AND PEOPLE ALONG THE SHORE, THE PILOT DITCHED THE HELICOPTER IN THE LAKE. DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE, THE CONTROL MECHANISM WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE PILOT FELT THAT THE DACRON BUSHING IN THE SLIDER BALL MECHANISM MAY HAVE EITHER SWELLED OR TIGHTENED CAUSING UNDUE PRESSURE IN THE HUB ASSEMBLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

CYCLIC CONTROL MOVEMENT WAS RESTRICTED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City KIRKLAND
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98034
Event Date Year 1992
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 2103
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 13 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46835
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7014N
NTSB Number SEA92LA183
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 JOHN S. HOLZEMER
Aircraft Model ROTORWAY EXEC
Aircraft Series Identifier ROTORWAY E
Aircraft Serial Number 3035
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 8 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 50
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HOLZEMER, JOHN S.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8213 JUANITA DR.
Aircraft Owner City KIRKLAND
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98034
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOLZEMER, JOHN S.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8213 JUANITA DR.
Operator City KIRKLAND
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98034
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 1700
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 10:35AM
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 --