Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jerseyville, Illinois 62052
Sunday, June 3, 2001 10:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental amateur-built helicopter impacted muddy terrain and rolled over when its skids became stuck in the mud during an emergency autorotation following a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that after the number one electronic control unit (ECU) had failed followed by the number two ECU failing while returning to the departure point at an airspeed of 40 mph and at an altitude of 100 feet agl. An operation at 40 mph and at 100 feet agl was within the shaded region of the height velocity envelope for the helicopter. A postaccident engine run was performed while operating on the primary and secondary fully automated digital electronic control systems. Inspection of the number one electronic control unit revealed two resistors damaged within its circuit board. The number one ECU was found to be inoperative during testing and the number two ECU did not communicate with the number one ECU.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the improper autorotation by the pilot. Contributing factors were the engine failure for undetermined reason(s) and the muddy terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/3/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Jerseyville
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62052
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
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 954 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID SET
Elevation of weather observation facility 439
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11577
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 3 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 14 2002 9:31AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Springfield FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N242KA
NTSB Number CHI01LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Allen
Aircraft Model Rotorway 162F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6307
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 29 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1.3
Airframe Hours 135.4
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Steven Allen
Aircraft Owner Street Address RTE 4 Box 368
Aircraft Owner City Jersevyille
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62052
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Jerseyville
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2002 3:36PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --