Amateur-built HELICYCLE accident near Richland, Washington, August 5, 2013
On August 5, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built HELICYCLE (helicopter), registered N234RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Richland, Washington (Richland 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 failure to maintain helicycle control during hover due to an inadvertent control input.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington · Richland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HELICYCLE, built 2012
- Registration
- N234RV · no longer on the register · serial 2-22
- 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, while in a hover about 10 feet above the ground, the helicycle began to spin right and that he was unable to stop the rotation. Subsequently, the helicycle struck a hangar with its tail and rolled over on its left side. The pilot reported that his right ankle was wrapped in a brace due to a recent injury and that, because of this brace, he inadvertently input pressure on the right rudder control input, which caused the helicycle to rotate right. The ankle brace prevented him from noticing the right rudder control input in a timely manner. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicycle that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Physical › Physical characteristic › Physical limitation › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 4, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 3, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 855 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Solar GPU (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richland WA
- Destination: RLD Richland WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PSC, 8 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N234RV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.