Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Topeka, Kansas 66616
Saturday, April 5, 2008 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
During a routine night surveillance flight, the helicopter's pilot heard the single reciprocating engine "fluctuate" slightly; he noted that the engine's rpm gauge was above the "normal operating limits", and the gauge [needle] was "jumping up-and-down". In order to keep the engine within operating limits, the pilot disabled the engine governor and decreased the engine rpm. During the return to base, the pilot heard the engine rev up and the low rotor rpm alarm. During the precautionary landing in a parking lot, the helicopter's main rotor blade contacted a light pole. The helicopter subsequently made a hard landing, coming to rest on its side. The magneto, governor controller, clutch actuator, engine/rotor tachometer and drive-belts were removed for examination. The governor, clutch actuator, tachometer, and drive belts all passed either a visual or electronic test inspection. A visual inspection of the magneto revealed that the exterior of the magneto was absent any damage, but was lightly covered with an "oil like" liquid. The magneto was bench tested and produced regular sparks beginning at 196 rpm's. The magneto’s signals to the governor box were clear and equal, with only a very slight overlap between both signals. The magneto was disassembled; the light oil like substance was present on the inside of the magneto. The inspection also revealed "whiskers" of residue/corrosion on the magneto contacts; which were black instead of the normal silver color. During the test it was noted that the magneto should have produced a regular spark at 150 rpm, and that the residue/corrosion could send extra impulse signals to the governor box; producing an indication that the engine is revving. However, it was also noted that because there was only a slight overlap of the electrical signals, and since the magneto passed the other test items,a malfunction could not be duplicated.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
A malfunctioning magneto, resulting in a high engine rpm and low rotor warning indications. A contributing factor was the impact with a light pole, during the precautionary landing.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 4/5/2008 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 3 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Topeka |
| Event State | KANSAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 66616 |
| Event Date Year | 2008 |
| Event Date Month | 4 |
| 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 | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1153 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KTOP |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | -- |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Night |
| 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) | 9 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 7 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 0 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 130 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 3 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.01 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 24436 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FSDO |
| NTSB Notification Date | Apr 5 2008 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 12 2008 3:40PM |
| User who most recently changed record | guzj |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Wichita, Kansas |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N402PD |
| NTSB Number | DFW08TA092 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Robinson |
| Aircraft Model | R44 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 11554 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | -- |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Apr 3 2008 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 4 |
| Airframe Hours | 1207 |
| ELT Installed | No |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | City of Topeka |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 3600 Sardou Ave |
| Aircraft Owner City | Topeka |
| Aircraft Owner State | KS |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 66616 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Topeka Police Department |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | 3600 Sardou Ave |
| Operator City | Topeka |
| Operator State | KS |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 66616 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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) | -- |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | -- |
| Departure City | Topeka |
| Departure State | KS |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 2309 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | -- |
| Destination City | Topeka |
| Destination State | KS |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Cruise - normal |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 23 2008 9:17AM |
| User who most recently changed record | hatc |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |