Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Georgetown, Indiana 47122
Friday, December 17, 1999 13:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported he lifted the helicopter off of the pad which was located to the east of a hangar/building. He reported the winds were from 260 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots. He reported he moved further east of the building in a two foot hover and was in an area where the helicopter was no longer protected from the winds by the building. He continued to report, 'Wind hit tail forcing helicopter to nose down attitude before being able to correct with cyclic aircraft contacted ground with left skid and rolled over.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty tailwind condition and the low altitude at which the helicopter was hovering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/17/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GEORGETOWN
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47122
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 12
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 1440 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID SDF
Elevation of weather observation facility 500
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 734
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 18 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1752
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 12:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N990JR
NTSB Number CHI00LA049
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 Rotorway
Aircraft Model EXEC 90
Aircraft Series Identifier EXEC 90
Aircraft Serial Number 3493
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Apr 9 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 44
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN L. ROBERT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1113 ESTATE DR.
Aircraft Owner City GEORGETOWN
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47122
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 PVT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Hover
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 --