Austin REVOLUTION MINI 500 accident near Northampton, PA
On August 11, 1998, an Austin REVOLUTION MINI 500 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Northampton, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 11, 1998
- Place
- Northampton, PA
- Aircraft
- Austin REVOLUTION MINI 500 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.861°N, 75.201°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10871
Official records · IAD98FA092
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 11,1998, at 1832 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Revolution Mini 500 helicopter, N2XK, was destroyed during collision with terrain following an uncontrolled descent near Northhampton, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the maintenance test flight that originated at Bangor, Pennsylvania, approximately 1800. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, one witness stated his attention was drawn to the helicopter because it sounded unusual. He said the helicopter was maneuvering approximately 200 feet in the air. The witness said: "I saw it circle around but it didn't sound too good. I heard it making these weird noises. It stopped in the air and then turned towards my house. I heard it go 'pow' then another sharp 'snap'. It sounded like a gunshot. Then I saw this piece flying. The helicopter rotated approximately one-quarter turn, the tail came up, the nose dropped, and then the aircraft fell out of sight." In a telephone interview, a second witness said his attention was drawn by the sound. He stated: "It sounded like a helicopter, but it had a funny sound, it had a rat-a-tat-tat sound. I couldn't see it, then I saw him make a right hand turn heading due west gaining altitude. I heard a 'poof-poof'...Just the sounds of the rotors didn't sound normal. I heard the lighter 'pop' and then the louder 'pop'." The witness stated the helicopter then descended behind a tree line out of view. The accident occurred during t
Probable cause
the improper maintenance adjustment and the failure to properly torque the pitch-change link barrel by the owner/builder which resulted in main rotor to tailboom contact and main rotor separation.
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Browse: Pennsylvania
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
