Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Isabela, Puerto Rico 00693
Saturday, February 12, 2005 15:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting a personal flight in a single-seat experimental helicopter under 14 CFR Part 91 when the helicopter had a loss of engine power. The pilot entered an autorotation to a construction site, and during the approach to land, he had to maneuver away from power lines. After clearing the power lines, the rotor rpm was too low to flare the helicopter, and it impacted the ground. The pilot said due to the extensive damage, he was not able to determine why the engine lost power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an autorotation and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/12/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1540
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Isabela
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00693
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 182941N
Event Location Longitude 0670746W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18715
NTSB Notification Source FAA Atlanta, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Feb 12 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1610
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2005 6:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA San Juan PR

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38DJ
NTSB Number ANC05LA032
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 Johnson
Aircraft Model Revolution Mini 500
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 321
Certified Max Gross Weight 840
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 125
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Neftail Valentin
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Vega Baja
Aircraft Owner State PR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00693
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Vega Baja
Departure State PR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 3 2005 12:56PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --