Rotorway Factory Ship Collision
NTSB Identification: LAX02LA121
Accident occurred Monday, April 01, 2002 at Chandler, AZ Aircraft:Rotorway Exec 165F, registration: N21901 Injuries: 2 Serious.
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.
On April 1, 2002, at 0955 mountain standard time, a Rotorway Exec 165F helicopter, N21901, collided with the ground following a loss of tail rotor drive while in cruise near Chandler, Arizona. The helicopter was owned and operated by Rotorway International, and was on a local area instructional flight. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot/flight instructor and an airline transport pilot student, who was undergoing transition training in the make and model helicopter, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Stellar Airpark, Chandler, about 0900.
After the accident, the flight instructor told his company that they lost the tail rotor drive and then collided with the ground and rolled over while attempting a forced landing.
The helicopter was examined on scene by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector. He reported that the drive belts were burned and frayed.