The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Seffner, Florida
Accident Number: ERA20LA037
Date & Time: November 2, 2019, 13:10 Local
Registration: Unregistered
Aircraft: MOSQUITO XE
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Factual Information
On November 2, 2019, about 1310 eastern standard time, an unregistered experimental, amateur-built Mosquito XE285 helicopter, sustained substantial damage while attempting to land at a private residence in Seffner, Florida. The private pilot was seriously injured. The helicopter was owned by the pilot and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the residence about 1255.
The pilot stated he landed too fast and the main rotor blade flexed down and struck the tail. The helicopter then rolled over.
The pilot's neighbor stated that the pilot purchased the single-seat helicopter about 6 months before the accident, and he would practice taking off on her property located behind his house. She said that she watched him "land hard and began bouncing around." The helicopter continued to bounce, before it flipped over and crashed.
The single-seat helicopter was manufactured in 2019 and had accrued a total of 16 flight hours at the time of the accident. The pilot was not rated in helicopters, but did hold a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on January 15, 2015. At that time, he reported a total of 200 flight hours. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter prior to the accident.
At 1335, weather at Tampa Executive Airport (VDF), located about 15 miles northwest of the accident site, was reported as calm wind, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 ft, broken clouds at 4,500 ft, overcast clouds at 6,000 ft, temperature 27°C, dew point 22° C, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.01 inches of mercury.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 70,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Center
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: January 15, 2010
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: August 1, 2019
Flight Time: 200 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: MOSQUITO
Registration: Unregistered
Model/Series: XE 285
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2019
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special)
Serial Number: MXE1330E18B
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 720 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 16 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Inntec 800
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 85 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: VDF, 21 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 12:35 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 320°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3500 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4500 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 22°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Seffner, FL (None)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Seffner, FL (None)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 12:55 Local
Type of Airspace: Unknown
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 27.983612,-82.275558(est)
Accident Number: ERA20LA037
Date & Time: 11/02/2019, 1300 EST
Registration: Unregistered
Aircraft: MOSQUITO XE
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On November 2, 2019, about 1300 eastern standard time, an unregistered experimental, amateur-built Mosquito XE285 helicopter, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private residence in Seffner, Florida. The private pilot was seriously injured. The helicopter was owned by the pilot and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that departed the residence about 1255.
In a statement to law enforcement, the pilot stated that he was trying to land and came down too fast and the main rotor blade flexed and struck the tail.
The pilot's neighbor stated that the pilot purchased the helicopter about 6 months before the accident, and he would practice taking off on her property located behind his house. She said that she watched him "land hard and began bouncing around." The helicopter continued to bounce, before it flipped over and crashed.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued on January 15, 2015. At that time, he reported a total of 200 flight hours.
At 1335, weather at Tampa Executive Airport (VDF), located about 15 miles northwest of the accident site, was reported as calm wind, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 ft, broken clouds at 4,500 ft, overcast clouds at 6,000 ft, temperature 27°C, dew point 22° C, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.01 inches of mercury.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: MOSQUITO
Registration: Unregistered
Model/Series: XE 285
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: VDF, 21 ft msl
Observation Time: 1235 EST
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 22°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3500 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4500 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Seffner, FL (None)
Destination: Seffner, FL (None)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 27.983611, -82.275556 (est)
Another Mosquito gone, there can't be too many of them left now.
ReplyDeleteOne thing for sure, there will never be a vintage Mosquito fly-in ever.