Amateur-built HELICYCLE accident near Metone, Indiana, August 6, 2011
On August 6, 2011 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built HELICYCLE (helicopter), registered N128BH, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Metone, Indiana (Metone Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of an electrical system failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2011 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Metone, Indiana · Metone Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HELICYCLE
- Registration
- N128BH · no longer on the register · serial 1-21B-1-27B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the helicopter was about 100 yards from the landing zone at 100 feet above ground level at 40 mph airspeed when the engine “flamed out.” He attempted to execute an autorotation, but the helicopter impacted hard. The examination of the helicopter revealed that the electrical wires that provided power to the helicopter’s fuel pump became disconnected, which resulted in an interruption in the fuel flow to the engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Autorotation Hard landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel sys wiring › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 461 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 315 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 7, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 880 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Solar T62-32 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C92 Metone IN
- Destination: C92 Metone IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from C92
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.