Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Circleville, Ohio 43113
Sunday, July 23, 2000 19:58 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter collided with a utility pole shortly after take-off from a confined area on private property. According to witnesses, the helicopter hovered for approximately five minutes before making a climbing left hand turn over buildings that were adjacent to the take-off area. As the pilot attempted to clear the buildings, the helicopter's rotor rpm decreased and there was no forward airspeed. The helicopter began to shake and the pilot made a descending left hand turn and impacted the utility pole and wires. Examination of the helicopter revealed there were no mechanical malfunctions. The pilot flew helicopters in the military, but did not possess any Federal Aviation Administration flight certificates.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Pilot's improper decision to depart a confined area with two people onboard, which resulted in a loss of rotor RPM and collision with a utility pole and wires.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1958
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CIRCLEVILLE
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43113
Event Date Year 2000
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1958 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID LCK
Elevation of weather observation facility 744
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1776
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11203
NTSB Notification Source Great Lakes Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1953
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2001 1:05PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N651GE
NTSB Number IAD00LA065
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 1936
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 Jun 9 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GLENN R EASTERDAY
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City CIRCLEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43113
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 NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1957
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 5 2001 4:05AM
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 --