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May 17, 2008 · Dowell Vaughn Exec 90 · N6032C

Lafayette, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 17, 2008
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lafayette, CO
Aircraft
Dowell Vaughn Exec 90
Tail Number
N6032C
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DFW08CA147

The private pilot stated during a telephonic interview that he was hovering in an open field adjacent to the airport, when he began to lose rotor RPM. He landed briefly to investigate why the helicopter was not flying properly. He then decided to hover taxi back to his hangar and was trying to keep the nose of the helicopter pointed into the wind. While hovering with a slight right crab over a freshly plowed field the helicopter settled, the right skid contacted the soft terrain, and rolled onto the right side. The pilot stated that the loss of rotor RPM was the result of the loose engine oil cap that sprayed engine oil on the main rotor system drive belts. The helicopter main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom were substantially damaged. There was no post-crash fire and the pilot reported no injuries. Weather was reported at the time as winds from 020 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 30 miles with few clouds at 7,000 feet and a temperature of 72 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue flight after experiencing a loss of rotor RPM. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's low level of experience in helicopters and the leaking oil from the engine oil filler cap.

Full Narrative

The private pilot stated during a telephonic interview that he was hovering in an open field adjacent to the airport, when he began to loose rotor RPM. He landed briefly to investigate why the helicopter was not flying properly. The pilot then decided to hover taxi back to his hangar and was trying to keep the nose of the helicopter pointed into the wind. While hovering with a slight right crab over a freshly plowed field the helicopter settled, the right skid contacted the soft terrain, and rolled onto the right side. The pilot stated that the loss of rotor RPM was the result of the loose engine oil cap that sprayed engine oil on the main rotor system drive belts. The helicopter main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom were substantially damaged. There was no post-crash fire and the pilot reported no injuries. Weather was reported at the time as winds from 020 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 30 miles with few clouds at 7,000 feet and a temperature of 72 degrees.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 MDT
Nearest AirportErie Municipal Airport (1nm)
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDowell Vaughn Exec 90
Tail NumberN6032C
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotorway · RI 162 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 7 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 37 C
Altimeter30.29 inHg
Observation Time11:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data