Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Indian Rks Bch, Florida 33535
Wednesday, May 2, 1990 14:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLT ABOUT 500 FT OFFSHORE, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG COOLANT & OIL TEMPERATURE BEGAN RISING. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE BEACH BUT WAS UNABLE, & LANDED JUST OFFSHORE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR MAST SEPARATED. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT A LIQUID COOLANT LINE SEPARATED FROM THE RADIATOR, DUE TO VIBRATION. THIS ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO DRAIN. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, THERE WAS NO AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE NOR ENG & ACFT LOGBOOKS. THE PLT HELD A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE BUT IT NOR HIS PLT LOGBOOK WAS ENDORSED AUTHORIZING SOLO FLT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE OVERHEATED ENGINE CAUSED BY A SEPARATED LIQUID COOLANT LINE WHICH ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO DRAIN, RESULTING IN THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/2/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City INDIAN RKS BCH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33535
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 87
Weather Observation Facility ID PIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
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) 552
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 4 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1514
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41514
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N70319
NTSB Number MIA90LA115
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 WILLIAMS, ROBERT G.
Aircraft Model AIR COMM. 532 ELITE
Aircraft Series Identifier AIR COMM.
Aircraft Serial Number 0459
Certified Max Gross Weight 750
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAMS, ROBERT G.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16033 REDINGTON DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City REDINGTON BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33708
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 No
Departure Airport Code CLW
Departure City CLEARWATER
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
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 Cruise
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --