Amateur-built REVOLUTION MINI 500 accident near N Philadelphia, Ohio, August 23, 1997
On August 23, 1997 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built REVOLUTION MINI 500 (helicopter), registered N7240E, was substantially damaged in an accident near N Philadelphia, Ohio. 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
A leak on the exhaust manifold which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1997 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- N Philadelphia, Ohio · 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 REVOLUTION
- Registration
- N7240E · no longer on the register · serial 0362
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he satisfactorily completed a pre-takeoff check, which included checking the exhaust gas temperature gage for correct temperatures. He then departed into the wind. The pilot reported that about 50 feet AGL, and airspeed about 30 to 40 mph, he noticed the main rotor slowing down and he added power with no results. He entered autorotation, but the rotor speed was inadequate to perform a successful autorotation, and the helicopter touched down hard. An engine examination revealed a half inch crack within a welded seam in the mid section of the exhaust manifold. The pilot reported that the exhaust manifold was delivered from the factory with the weld. The helicopter had a total of 56 hours since new.
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
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1997; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHD at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from CAK, 30 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.