Witness... Heard A Loud “Bang” And Observed Debris Separating From The Helicopter As It Descended To The Ground

Location: Andale, KS Accident Number: CEN24FA248
Date & Time: July 5, 2024, 08:01 Local Registration: N51017
Aircraft: Faber Vincent L Scorpion 133 Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On July 05, 2024, about 0801 central daylight time, a Rotorway Scorpion 133 helicopter, N51017, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Andale, Kansas. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot’s family, the flight originated from the pilot’s personal residence, and he was conducting maneuvers in preparation for a helicopter rating check ride. A witness, who was traveling in a motor vehicle, heard a loud “bang” and observed debris separating from the helicopter as it descended to the ground.

The wreckage was located in a wooded area that bordered a cultivated field about 1.6 miles northeast of the departure point. The helicopter came to rest on its left side in a swale and the postcrash fire consumed a majority of the composite structure. The tail rotor assembly and a section of the tailboom’s tubular steel structure were located about 150 yards southwest of the main wreckage.

Examination of the wreckage revealed the separated areas of the tailboom exhibited semicircle impressions at the separation points and deformation to the left. Leading edge abrasions and witness marks were noted to the outboard area of the main rotor blades. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating that was issued on March 28, 2013. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on December 19, 2022. A review of the pilot’s logbook revealed he had accrued 32.6 hours of dual instruction, 28.8 hours of solo, and a total of 61.4 hours of flight experience in the Rotorway Scorpion 133. The last recorded solo endorsement was dated October 07, 2022.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov