FTW95LA007

Factual narrative

On October 1, 1994, at 1845 central daylight time, a Brantly B-2, N5996X, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Houston, Texas. The helicopter was flown by an airline transport rated pilot for a local personal flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and one passenger were uninjured. During an interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that the helicopter was in cruise flight when the "engine had a loss of power and surged." He further reported that he "initiated a precautionary autorotation procedure." The power on autorotation was reported to be uneventful until the "skids became tangled in bean vines," during the ground run, and the helicopter turned "90 degrees" and "gently rolled over." An examination of the engine by the operator and a Federal Aviation inspector failed to reveal the reason for the erratic engine power. The helicopter sustained damage to the skids, airframe, and main rotor blades. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOLLOWED BY SURGES. THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY AUTOROTATION LANDING. DURING THE GROUND RUN THE AIRCRAFT LANDING SKID BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE VEGETATION, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN RIGHT AND ROLL OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE REASON FOR THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND SURGES WAS NOT DETERMINED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12