Meeker Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Meeker, Colorado 81641
Saturday, July 10, 2004 10:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that approximately 3 minutes after departing the airport, he heard a "loud squealing noise" from the engine and rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot initiated an autorotation at 1,200 feet agl and positioned the helicopter to land in a nearby field. The pilot stated that several feet off the ground he heard a "growling noise" and the helicopter "yawed to the right," approximately 70 degrees. The helicopter landed on the left skid and subsequently rolled onto its side causing substantial damage. According to the pilot, post accident examination revealed that the supercharger on the engine had failed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

aircraft control not maintained by the pilot. A contributing factor was the failure of the supercharger.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Meeker
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81641
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400502N
Event Location Longitude 1075106W
Event Location Airport Meeker
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EEO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 6793
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1027 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID EEO
Elevation of weather observation facility 6421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) 8833
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16249
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Ctr
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office SLC FAA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N518W
NTSB Number DEN04CA101
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 Whitlock
Aircraft Model Rotorway Exec 162F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6618
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Guy E. Whitlock
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Craig
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81625
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 No
Departure Airport Code EEO
Departure City Meeker
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Craig
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 10 2004 12:52PM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --