D & D AIRCRAFT ROTORWAY EXEC
Massillon, OH — April 23, 2011
Event Information
| Date | April 23, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN11LA305 |
| Event ID | 20110426X80846 |
| Location | Massillon, OH |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 40.79694, -81.52111 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | D & D AIRCRAFT |
| Model | ROTORWAY EXEC |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The excessive wear on the secondary shaft, from the inner bearing race, which resulted in the transmission clutch disengagement and a loss of power to the rotor system.
Full Narrative
On April 23, 2011, at 1541 eastern daylight time, a D&D Aircraft Rotorway Exec, N614S, an experimental, amateur built helicopter, collided with the terrain during an off airport forced landing in Massillon, Ohio. The pilot received a minor injury while exiting the helicopter. The helicopter received substantial damage. The personal flight was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from a private field in Massillon, Ohio.
The pilot reported that during cruise flight the engine speed increased to a high rpm and the power was no longer being transmitted through to the rotor system. He initiated an autorotation to a sloping, plowed field that was soft due to recent rain. The tail struck the ground during the landing flare and the main rotor blades contacted the tailboom. The helicopter rolled over due to the downward slope and the soft terrain.
Postaccident inspection of the helicopter by the pilot/builder and Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the inner race of the bearing on the secondary shaft, located above the transmission clutch, was worn into the shaft. The secondary shaft was designed by the pilot.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.