Armbruster MINI-500 accident near Midland, VA
On November 29, 1998, an Armbruster MINI-500 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Midland, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 29, 1998
- Place
- Midland, VA
- Aircraft
- Armbruster MINI-500 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.590°N, 77.720°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X11436
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 29, 1998, about 1515 Eastern Standard Time, an amateur-built Mini-500 helicopter, N500GH, was destroyed during a collision with trees and terrain near Midland, Virginia. The certificated private pilot/owner/builder was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from the Manassas Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A family member reported the pilot missing after he did not return from a 45-minute local flight on November 29, 1998. Tower personnel at HEF recorded the helicopter took off at 1400, and witness reports indicated that the helicopter was near Leesburg Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia, about 1430, and near Nokesville, Virginia, about 1500, on the day of the accident. A search conducted by the Civil Air Patrol located the helicopter on December 2, 1998, about 1530, in a wooded area, approximately 1/4 mile north/northeast of the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (W66), Warrenton, Virginia. The accident occurred during daylight hours at approximately 38 degrees 35 minutes north latitude and 077 degrees 41 minutes west longitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, instrument airplane, and rotorcraft/helicopter. He held a repairman certificate for the Mini-500, issued on May 27, 1997, with limitations for the accident helicopter only. The pilot was issued a third class medical certificate on July 23, 1997. He reported 1,105 hours of total f
Probable cause
the improper repair of the engine following a previous engine seizure which resulted in the loss of engine power over unsuitable terrain.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
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Browse: Virginia
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
