Amateur-built HELICYCLE accident near Stuart, Florida, July 19, 2008
On July 19, 2008 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built HELICYCLE (helicopter), registered N3375C, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Stuart, Florida (Witham Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to take off with a known discrepancy. Contributing to the accident was spilled fuel on the drive belts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2008 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Stuart, Florida · Witham Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HELICYCLE
- Registration
- N3375C · no longer on the register · serial 26
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot of the amateur-built helicycle, he made an uneventful approach to a taxiway with a calm wind. About 1 foot above the ground, the nose started yawing to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to no effect, but was able to land the helicopter without incident. All instrument readings were normal and there were no unusual vibrations. Then, in an effort to move the helicopter from the taxiway, the pilot entered into a hover and applied right pedal to turn. The pilot continued raising the collective, and applied left pedal to stop the right turn; however, the helicopter would not stop turning. After the pilot lowered the collective the right skid hit the ground and collapsed, the rotor blades impacted the ground, and the lower portion of the vertical stabilizer was bent. The pilot subsequently determined that a fuel spill on the helicopter's drive belts resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during maneuvering
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor drive system › (general) › Damaged/degraded
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, student
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,485 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 82 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 855 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Solar T62-T32 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: R & J Enterprises Of North Carolina INC
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Lantana FL at 2:40 pm
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from SUA
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.