Amateur-built Revolution Mini 500 accident near Ida, Michigan, September 3, 2005
On September 3, 2005 at about 5:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Revolution Mini 500 (helicopter), registered N20925, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ida, Michigan (Lada 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 pilot's abrupt (improper) control action which resulted in the main rotor contacting the tail boom. Contributing factors were the false indication provided by the engine tachometer, the pilot's decision to immediately initiate an autorotation instead of performing a precautionary landing, and the corn field encountered during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2005 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ida, Michigan · Lada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Revolution Mini 500
- Registration
- N20925 · no longer on the register · serial 0176
- 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 amateur-built helicopter was in cruise flight at 1,750 feet mean sea level when the main rotor contacted the tail boom. He stated that the engine tachometer began indicating near the high operating limit. At the same time the rotor tachometer was indicating near the low operating limit. His attempt to correct the condition was not successful. The pilot stated that he lowered the collective and the helicopter pitched forward. He reported that when he compensated for the forward pitch the main rotor blades struck the tail boom. He then turned into the wind and entered an autorotation. The pilot stated that a post accident examination revealed that the engine tachometer was providing false indications and improperly indicated an engine overspeed condition.
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
Pilot
- Flight time: 103 hours in all; 54 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 69.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2005; 65.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 480 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 86G Petersburg MI at 5:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 5:16 pm from TTF, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.