Pilot Debrief

ROTORWAY EXEC near Lake Havasu City, AZ — 2025-12-08

Final reportWPR26LA056
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Date
2025-12-08
Location
Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA
Airport
49x
Aircraft
ROTORWAY EXEC
Registration
C-GBZD
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper securing hardware installation, which resulted in a loss of throttle control and a loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner of an amateur-built helicopter reported that, while transitioning through translational lift for landing at about 30 ft above ground level with near-zero forward airspeed, the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot/owner attempted to perform an autorotative landing by increasing collective and applying left pedal, and the helicopter subsequently experienced a hard landing, bounced, and came to rest on the edge of the runway at an 45° angle. The helicopter then rocked backward, resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom and tail rotor blades. The pilot’s post-accident examination of the engine revealed that it started normally during a test run; however, the engine would not accelerate above idle power. Further examination determined that the throttle cable was disconnected due to a missing retaining nut. The pilot reported that he had installed a nyloc self-locking nut, but the bolt threads did not extend sufficiently into the nut to engage the nylon insert and secure the nut. As a result, the nut separated in flight, which allowed the throttle to move to the idle position and resulted in a loss of engine power.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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