Indianapolis Rgnl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Comfort, Indiana 46140
Saturday, June 21, 2014 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, while the experimental, amateur-built helicopter was climbing through 300 feet, he heard a loud “bang” come from the rear compartment and that the helicopter subsequently yawed right. He made an emergency autorotation landing to a field. During the landing, the helicopter’s skids sunk into the mud, and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter then came to rest on its side. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor belt was not approved for aircraft use and that it was broken straight across in a crimp-type failure. According to the belt manufacturer, belt crimping damage is “commonly associated with belt mishandling, inadequate belt installation tension, sub-minimal sprocket diameters, and/or entry of foreign objects within the belt drive.” No foreign object preimpact damage was found. Further, although the belt was an unapproved part, it should have been inspected during each 25-hour standard inspection and the belt tension was to be tested during each annual inspection. At the time of the accident, the belt had accumulated 215.9 total hours. Based on this evidence, the pilot installed an unauthorized main rotor drive belt and then failed to properly inspect the belt, which resulted in inadequate belt tension, the belt’s failure, and the subsequent loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s installation of an unauthorized main rotor belt and his subsequent failure to properly inspect the belt, which resulted in inadequate belt tension, the belt’s failure, and the subsequent loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/21/2014
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Mt. Comfort
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46140
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395132N
Event Location Longitude 0855433W
Event Location Airport INDIANAPOLIS RGNL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MQJ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 356
Airport Elevation 862
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 165
Weather Observation Facility ID KGEZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 804
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
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) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KGEZ 211353Z AUTO 35005KT 10SM CLR 26/21 A29
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33328
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 26 2014 4:47PM
User who most recently changed record linj-i
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6828D
NTSB Number CEN14LA307
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 ROTORWAY
Aircraft Model EXEC 162F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6460
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 14 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 371
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tim G Payne
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PENDLETON
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 460649757
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Tim G Payne
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PENDLETON
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 460649757
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code MQJ
Departure City Mt. Comfort
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GSH
Destination City GOSHEN
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 26 2014 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record linj-i
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 --