Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Danbury, Texas 77534
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 10:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had just taken off in the helicopter when the pilot and the flight instructor heard a loud “bang,” and the engine lost total power. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and initiated an autorotation to available terrain from a low altitude; however, when the helicopter touched down, it encountered a rut and rolled over on its right side. The main rotor blades were destroyed, and the tail boom was severed. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod had failed. The reason the connecting rod failed could not be determined during postaccident examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power due to the failure of a connecting rod for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/19/2013
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Danbury
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77534
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 291416N
Event Location Longitude 0952025W
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 Unknown
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KLBX 192153Z AUTO 18013KT 10SM CLR 32/23 A29
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) 31948
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2013 10:29AM
User who most recently changed record bakd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N485PM
NTSB Number CEN13LA360
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ENSTROM
Aircraft Model F-28A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 259
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
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 Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SALAIKA TIMOTHY A
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 757
Aircraft Owner City DANBURY
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77534-0757
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SALAIKA TIMOTHY A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ON FILE
Operator City DANBURY
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 77534-0757
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 07TA
Departure City Danbury
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 950
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 USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 20 2013 2:34PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --