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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 25, 1982 · Rotorway Scorpion TOO Scorpion T · N222RP

Jerome, ID

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 25, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Jerome, ID
Aircraft
Rotorway Scorpion TOO Scorpion T
Tail Number
N222RP
Operator
Douglas J Mcfall
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA82DYA06

The pilot was familiarizing himself with the home built helicopter. After hovering in one general area for about 45 minutes, he decided to hover to an open area by crossing a fence. He stated that he entered translational lift at about 20 knots while hovering forward. At this time, the helicopter began rolling to the left. Full right cyclic failed to correct the roll. The helicopter continued to roll left and struck the ground with the main rotor blade and left skid. For solo flight, the ship's battery must be repositioned in the nose, and lead weights must be attached to the right skid for proper weight and balance control. The pilot stated that he had made those alterations prior to flight. An on-site investigation indicated that the battery and lead weights were thrown free of the helicopter. Insufficient data was available to ascertain the aircraft's center-of-gravity at the time of the accident. The flight controls had retained their continuity. The elevation was about 3700 ft.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS FAMILIARIZING HIMSELF WITH THE HOME BUILT HELICOPTER. AFTER HOVERING IN ONE GENERAL AREA FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES, HE DECIDED TO HOVER TO AN OPEN AREA BY CROSSING A FENCE. HE STATED THAT HE ENTERED TRANSLATIONAL LIFT AT ABOUT 20 KNOTS WHILE HOVERING FORWARD. AT THIS TIME, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN ROLLING TO THE LEFT. FULL RIGHT CYCLIC FAILED TO CORRECT THE ROLL. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL LEFT AND STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND LEFT SKID. FOR SOLO FLIGHT, THE SHIPS BATTERY MUST BE REPOSITIONED IN THE NOSE, AND LEAD WEIGHTS MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT SKID FOR PROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE CONTROL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE THOSE ALTERATIONS PRIOR TO FLIGHT. AN ON-SITE INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY AND LEAD WEIGHTS WERE THROWN FREE OF THE HELICOPTER. INSUFFICIENT DATA WAS AVAILABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE AIRCRAFT'S CENTER-OF-GRAVITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT CONTROLS HAD RETAINED THEIR CONTINUITY. THE ELEVATION WAS ABOUT 3700 FT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:45 MST
Nearest AirportHalf Way Ranch (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRotorway Scorpion TOO Scorpion T
Tail NumberN222RP
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDouglas J Mcfall
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotorway · TRW-133 · Reciprocating
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 25 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 8 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data