Brewton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brewton, Alabama 36426
Friday, January 24, 2003 9:13 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was maneuvering in the traffic pattern for landing. He failed to properly use the cyclic and collective pitch and maintain rotor RPM, which resulted in mast bumping, separation of the tailboom assembly, and subsequent collision with terrain. Impact marks were present on the rotor blade hub bar, and paint transfer marks were present on the bottom of both main rotor blades and leading edge.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper use of flight controls (cyclic and collective) and failure to maintain rotor RPM while maneuvering that resulted in the separation of the tailboom assembly.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/24/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 913
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Brewton
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36426
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 310304N
Event Location Longitude 0870404W
Event Location Airport Brewton Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 12J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 96
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID GZH
Elevation of weather observation facility 260
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.58
Density Altitude (feet) -1237
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14153
NTSB Notification Source Miami NTSB
NTSB Notification Date Jan 27 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8YF
NTSB Number ATL03LA037
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 Long
Aircraft Model 2000
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number H2-01-12-519
Certified Max Gross Weight 1540
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Nov 12 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 69
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jack D. Long
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6406 Happy Jack Road
Aircraft Owner City Cheyenne
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82009
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 12J
Departure City Brewton
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 903
Departure Time Zone CST
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? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 7 2003 9:23AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --