NTSB Factual Report

On March 25, 2007, at approximately 0855 Pacific daylight time, a Boykin Rotorway Exec 162F experimental, homebuilt helicopter, N496SB, was substantially damaged when it landed hard and rolled onto its left side. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The helicopter was being operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, personal flight that originated at approximately 0800. No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot said that this was his first solo flight in this make and model helicopter. He said he did weight and balance calculations before performing a preflight inspection of the aircraft. The pilot said that he performed a ground taxi, and hovered for 5 to 10 minutes, with pedal turns, to check the control capability. He flew to an open field and noted a slight drift to the left. He returned to the airport and made a normal approach to the helipad followed by a normal flare. The aircraft then started to drift to the left and would not correct with right cyclic; while trying to correct the left drift with right cyclic, the cyclic became limited by his leg and the confines of the cockpit. During an attempted go around, the pilot said that his airspeed had decreased to zero, and his rotor RPM had dropped. He said the helicopter began to descend and landed hard on the left forward skid. Subsequently the helicopter rolled onto its left side.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor RPM resulting in an uncontrolled descent to a hard landing. A contributing factor was his lack of experience in make and model of aircraft.