WPR13LA360

Factual narrative

On August 5, 2013, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built Versteeg Helicycle, N234RV, sustained substantial damage when it struck a hangar at the Richland Airport (RLD) Richland, Washington. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The pilot reported that while in a hover about ten feet above the ground, the aircraft began to spin to the right and he was unable to stop the rotation. Subsequently, it struck a hangar with its tail and rolled over on its left side. Postaccident examination of the aircraft by the pilot revealed that the main rotor and tail rotor systems were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that his right ankle was wrapped in a brace due to a recent injury. He further reported that he inadvertently inputted pressure on the right rudder pedal that caused the helicopter to rotate. The ankle brace and wrapping prevented him from noticing his right rudder control input in a timely manner. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Airport structure-Contributed to outcome
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Personnel issues-Physical-Physical characteristic-Physical limitation-Pilot