Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Safari (Mfr: MichaelS/MichaelK), N105KM: Accident occurred March 13, 2012 in Middle Valley, Tennessee

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items  -   National Transportation Safety Board:   http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary -  National Transportation Safety Board:   http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N105KM 

NTSB Identification: ERA12LA226
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 13, 2012 in Middle Valley, TN
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/21/2014
Aircraft: MICHAEL S/MICHAEL K SAFARI, registration: N105KM
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot of the experimental amateur-built helicopter reported that the engine shuddered twice momentarily shortly after takeoff and then lost power. After observing the engine rpm drop from about 2,700 to 1,500, the pilot initiated an autorotation and subsequently landed the helicopter on top of a tree, which began to lower toward a creek. The helicopter came to rest partially submerged in the creek and was partially consumed by a postcrash fire. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; however, impact and fire damage precluded the ability to functionally check the engine and fuel system. Review of engine monitor data, which was recorded at 5-second intervals, did not reveal any drops in engine rpm or any other anomalies consistent with the pilot’s statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to the postaccident condition of the airframe and engine.


On March 13, 2012, about 1745 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built, CHR Safari helicopter, N105KM, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during an autorotation in Hixson, Tennessee. The private pilot was not injured and a passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The two seat helicopter was co-owned and co-built by the pilot. It was powered by a non-certified Superior XP IO-360 series, 380-horsepower engine and issued an experimental airworthiness certificate on September 23, 2009.

The pilot stated he flew about 1 mile from his home to reach the passenger's property. He landed in an open field and secured the helicopter before assisting the passenger on board. The helicopter was started and lifted off without incident. At an airspeed of approximately 45 knots, and between 100 and 150 feet above the ground, "the engine shuttered for an instant and came back to normal." The pilot stopped the climb, confirmed that all engine instruments were "in the green" and began a left turn back toward the takeoff area. About halfway into the 180-degree turn, the engine shuttered again. The pilot applied full throttle with no engine response and observed the engine rpm drop from about 2,700 to about 1,500, with the rotor speed in the middle of the green indicator. He then entered an autorotation and landed on top of a tree, which began to bend over, and lowered the helicopter toward a creek below. As the helicopter reached the water, it rolled on to its side and fell about 3 feet into the creek. The pilot was able to assist the passenger out of the helicopter during the time in which a fire erupted from the engine compartment. The fire was contained with water from the creek until it was extinguished by the local fire department.

Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The engine crankshaft rotated freely, compression was obtained on all cylinders and proper magneto function was noted. Fuel mixed with water was found in the gascolater; consistent with being submerged in the creek. Damage sustained to the engine during the impact and postaccident fire prevented the ability to have it operationally test run. Additional detailed examinations of the helicopter, which included examinations of the engine, clutch and transmission systems by the helicopter kit manufacturer, did not reveal any preimpact failures.

In addition, the kit manufacturer conducted a series of test flights utilizing a similarly equipped and configured helicopter in an attempt to determine if clutch slippage could be induced under normal flight conditions. According to the kit manufacturer, clutch slippage could only be induced under conditions which were well outside the helicopter's normal operating parameters and standard procedures, such as allowing the rotor rpm to decay below 450 rpm and rapid application of the collective or throttle controls.


The helicopter was equipped with a Dynon EMS-D10 engine monitor which was configured to record information at 5 second intervals to non-volatile-memory. The engine monitor was successfully downloaded at the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory, Washington, DC. Review of the data did not reveal any drops in engine rpm or any other anomalies consistent with the pilot's statement. The data during about 30 seconds prior to the autorotation showed consistent fuel flows, fuel pressures, and manifold pressures, with rpm mostly in the 2,700-2,740 range and never dropping below about 2,600 rpm.


At the time of the accident, the helicopter had been operated for about 130 total hours, and about 75 hours since its most recent condition inspection, which was performed on June 20, 2011.

The pilot/co-owner reported 1,230 hours of total flight experience, which included about 380 hours in helicopters, and approximately 147 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. In addition, he had flown the accident helicopter 26 hours and 3 hours, during the 90 and 30 days that preceded the accident; respectively.


  NTSB Identification: ERA12LA226 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 13, 2012 in Middle Valley, TN
Aircraft: MICHAEL S/MICHAEL K SAFARI, registration: N105KM
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On March 13, 2012, at 1745, eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur built, Michael CHR Safari helicopter, N105KM, registered to and operated by an individual, incurred substantial damage during an autorotation in Middle Valley, Tennessee. The pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, personal flight. The flight originated from the passenger’s private property about 1735.

The pilot stated he flew about a mile from his home to reach the passenger’s property. He landed in an open field and secured the helicopter before assisting the passenger on board, and briefed him what to expect during the flight. The helicopter was started and maneuvered about 150 feet above the ground before flying over a wooded area near the passenger’s property. Not long into the flight, the pilot felt the helicopter’s engine surge. He decided at that moment to return to the open field that he departed from. While in the turn, the engine surged again, followed by a loss of power. The pilot performed an autorotation onto the trees below. The helicopter landed on top of a tree, which lower the helicopter gently as it bent over toward the creek below. As the helicopter reached the water, it rolled on to its side. Fuel from the fuel tanks spilled and caught on fire. The pilot was able to assist the passenger out of the helicopter moments after the start of the fire and contain the flames with creek water until the local fire department arrived and extinguish the flames.

The helicopter was retained for further examination.


IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 105KM        Make/Model: EXP       Description: SAFARI ROTORCRAFT
  Date: 03/13/2012     Time: 2146

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: HIXSON   State: TN   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N105KM SAFARI EXPERIMENTAL ROTORCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, 
  13 MILES FROM HIXSON, TN

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    

WEATHER: VFR

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: NASHVILLE, TN  (CE19)                 Entry date: 03/14/2012 


A 91-year-old man is recovering at the Augusta Burn Center after surviving a helicopter crash Tuesday evening. It happened in Hixson, just off Barker Road inside the Branches Plantation.

Hamilton County Emergency crews tell us firefighters arrived on the scene and were able to put out the fire caused when the helicopter crashed. The pilot was Steve Michael, was flying an experimental Safari aircraft.

We're told he landed at the plantation to pick up his passenger, 91-year-old Ivan Vernon. Vernon's sister, Babs Rymer, explains that her father is adventurous and had been wanting to fly with Michael. The two men go to the same church, and Vernon was thrilled to go up in his first helicopter ride. Unfortunately, Rymer tells us she watched as the power failed and the chopper started falling. She says Michael was able to avoid the power lines, and the trees helped break the fall.

Rymer says, "It almost immediately burst into flames then because that's when I saw it because I heard the blades hit the trees. By the time I got there I saw 12 foot flames, not knowing they had gotten out."

Rymer says she feared that her father and the pilot were trapped inside, but suddenly heard Michael's voice reporting that both men were alright. "That truly is God's miracle that that happened, a whole group of angels taking care of them."

Vernon and Michael were able to hike through the woods to get help. Vernon suffered second and third degree burns on his right arm.

The National Transportation and Safety Board was at the scene Wednesday investigating the accident. Depend on us to let you know the cause once it's released.