Dennis Fetters Mini 500

The guy is dead from a Mini 500.



"Dennis Fetters" wrote in message
m...
Brad Mallard wrote:
I will put a little two cents in here. I was actually finishing a
Metallurgical Engineering degree at the University of Alabama in
Tuscaloosa
a few years ago when the Areospace Engineering Department actually
bought a
kit as a project for the department.

I was actually following along the process of construction because I had
planned for quite some time to build one as well. I kept notes on the
progress and talked with the select individuals chosen to actually
construct
the craft. The Areospace department had only one instructor that was
helicopter rated and there is only one seat in this chopper, so it was
never
a question of who was going to fly the bird.

According to the FAA report of the National Transportation Board ID #
ATL01A003 it says " On October 3, 2000, at 0856 central daylight time, a
University of Alabama Mini-500 Experimental Helicopter, N6165T, collided
with the ground and burst into flames."

This guy had thousands of logged hours, and numerous aviation ratings
including Commercial Helicopter and a repairman experimental aircraft
builder certificate. My thoughts of building a helicopter quit that
day...

The full report can be read at www.ntsb.gov
"Jay" wrote in message
om...


Fetters wrote:
This is a little part of the problem here Brad. People don't tell the
complete story. In that way it will make a point opposite of what really
happened. Why would you do that? Here, lets go into the true, full facts:

************
On October 3, 2000, at 0856 central daylight time, a University of
Alabama Mini-500 Experimental Helicopter, N6165T, collided with the
ground and burst into flames while on approach to the Tuscaloosa
Municipal Airport, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. cut

According to the airport control tower operator, the helicopter had
completed three to four circuits in closed traffic to taxiway golf.
While on the downwind leg, the controller believed that the helicopter
had a sudden loss of engine power and began to descend. The tower
received no communications and the helicopters rotor rpm decreased and
appeared to stop before impact. Crash fire rescue trucks were on the
scene and the post-crash fire was extinguished within minutes.
****************


Fetters wrote:
Why did the engine quit? according to our files I do know that the
helicopter did not have all the mandatory AD's installed and should not
have been flying at all. I do know that the helicopter did not have the
mandatory PEP exhaust system installed which eliminated the need of
jetting after ambient temperature changes. I also know that he had left
the stock Rotax jetting in the engine and ignored our instructions to
change it from airplane jetting to helicopter jetting, which would cause
the engine to lean out and seize in a decent, as all of our advisories
and instructions said would happen. He also never even once signed and
returned a single AD notice as required.


***************
cut
According to the aircraft logbook, on September 28, 2000, the pilot had
modified the helicopters horizontal stabilizer by cutting off part of
the stabilizer behind mounting plates number 88 and number 98, and
removed the winglets. The pilot flew 10 traffic patterns in new
configuration. He noted in the logbook "less objectionable side to side
shaking, but balance still indicates vertical 1.5 ips in climb."
However, according to the FAA, this modification was not approved as
required by the experimental aircraft operating limitations.
cut
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable
cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's
unapproved airframe modification that resulted in the loss of flight
control during the emergency descent.
*******************


Fetters wrote:
OK, now where was this the helicopters fault? The man was flying a kit
helicopter he built that didn't have the up-to-date mandatory upgrades,
he had the wrong jetting and he modified a sensitive part of the
airframe that directly allows proper entrance into an autorotation, and
he did not enter a proper autorotation after the engine quit, if he even
could after the modification. The FAA determined that it was pilot
error, who could disagree?

I hope this clears up any misconceptions from inadequate posting of
partial information.

Dennis Fetters

Brad Mallard wrote:
The guy is dead from a Mini 500.


Brad, That's really putting it in a way that makes it sound like it was
the helicopters fault when it was not. We're all adults, is it to much
to be fair here?

The man is dead because he was attempting to fly a "helicopter" that was
not correctly built, not correctly jetted, and had been modified in a
manner that could have adversely affected it's flight characteristics,
and he did not properly autorotate after he had an engine failure due to
his own failure to follow simple instructions.

That is the proper and fair description. It's sad to see someone die in
a completely preventable accident.

Couldn't that happen in any helicopter design with the same scenario, right?

Sincerely,

Dennis Fetters



"Dennis Fetters" wrote in message
m...

Brad Mallard wrote:

I will put a little two cents in here. I was actually finishing a
Metallurgical Engineering degree at the University of Alabama in

Tuscaloosa

a few years ago when the Areospace Engineering Department actually

bought a

kit as a project for the department.

I was actually following along the process of construction because I had
planned for quite some time to build one as well. I kept notes on the
progress and talked with the select individuals chosen to actually

construct

the craft. The Areospace department had only one instructor that was
helicopter rated and there is only one seat in this chopper, so it was

never

a question of who was going to fly the bird.

According to the FAA report of the National Transportation Board ID #
ATL01A003 it says " On October 3, 2000, at 0856 central daylight time, a
University of Alabama Mini-500 Experimental Helicopter, N6165T, collided
with the ground and burst into flames."

This guy had thousands of logged hours, and numerous aviation ratings
including Commercial Helicopter and a repairman experimental aircraft
builder certificate. My thoughts of building a helicopter quit that

day...

The full report can be read at www.ntsb.gov
"Jay" wrote in message
e.com...


Fetters wrote:
This is a little part of the problem here Brad. People don't tell the
complete story. In that way it will make a point opposite of what really
happened. Why would you do that? Here, lets go into the true, full facts:

************
On October 3, 2000, at 0856 central daylight time, a University of
Alabama Mini-500 Experimental Helicopter, N6165T, collided with the
ground and burst into flames while on approach to the Tuscaloosa
Municipal Airport, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. cut

According to the airport control tower operator, the helicopter had
completed three to four circuits in closed traffic to taxiway golf.
While on the downwind leg, the controller believed that the helicopter
had a sudden loss of engine power and began to descend. The tower
received no communications and the helicopters rotor rpm decreased and
appeared to stop before impact. Crash fire rescue trucks were on the
scene and the post-crash fire was extinguished within minutes.
****************


Fetters wrote:
Why did the engine quit? according to our files I do know that the
helicopter did not have all the mandatory AD's installed and should not
have been flying at all. I do know that the helicopter did not have the
mandatory PEP exhaust system installed which eliminated the need of
jetting after ambient temperature changes. I also know that he had left
the stock Rotax jetting in the engine and ignored our instructions to
change it from airplane jetting to helicopter jetting, which would cause
the engine to lean out and seize in a decent, as all of our advisories
and instructions said would happen. He also never even once signed and
returned a single AD notice as required.


***************
cut
According to the aircraft logbook, on September 28, 2000, the pilot had
modified the helicopters horizontal stabilizer by cutting off part of
the stabilizer behind mounting plates number 88 and number 98, and
removed the winglets. The pilot flew 10 traffic patterns in new
configuration. He noted in the logbook "less objectionable side to side
shaking, but balance still indicates vertical 1.5 ips in climb."
However, according to the FAA, this modification was not approved as
required by the experimental aircraft operating limitations.
cut
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable
cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's
unapproved airframe modification that resulted in the loss of flight
control during the emergency descent.
*******************


Fetters wrote:
OK, now where was this the helicopters fault? The man was flying a kit
helicopter he built that didn't have the up-to-date mandatory upgrades,
he had the wrong jetting and he modified a sensitive part of the
airframe that directly allows proper entrance into an autorotation, and
he did not enter a proper autorotation after the engine quit, if he even
could after the modification. The FAA determined that it was pilot
error, who could disagree?

I hope this clears up any misconceptions from inadequate posting of
partial information.

Dennis Fetters

Brad Mallard wrote:

The guy is dead from a Mini 500.

Really? Sounds like he is dead from not following the manufacturer's
recommendations. It is sad that he is dead, but stupidity can be fatal,
especially when it occurs in relation to aviation.


Matt

..
"Matt Whiting" wrote in message ...
Brad Mallard wrote:

The guy is dead from a Mini 500.

Really? Sounds like he is dead from not following the manufacturer's
recommendations. It is sad that he is dead, but stupidity can be fatal,
especially when it occurs in relation to aviation.


Matt


I think we all need to blame gravity, or maybe the earth, or maybe the adventurous spirit of man. He chose to do what he
did. Freedom is a wonderful thing. It does have its responsibilities though. Ignorance can be bliss, and it can kill
you.
--
Dan D.
http://www.ameritech.net/users/ddevillers/start.html

"
I think we all need to blame gravity, or maybe the earth, or maybe the adventurous spirit of man. He chose to do what he
did. Freedom is a wonderful thing. It does have its responsibilities though. Ignorance can be bliss, and it can kill
you.

Why are you people not trying to shut down the gun manufactures or
porsche or ferrari? They all produce/sell products to anybody who
walks through their doors and have no conscience or even give a rats
behind if those people go out and kill themselves or anybody else. Gun
manufacturers even refuse to adjust the trigger presure so that
children (who they know might or do have access) can'nt fire a bullet!
I won't even talk about the tobaco or alchohol producers! You guys
blame Dennis for the plight of people who 'know not what they do'
and/or do not fully respect the dangers of aviation. Most people fully
understand the dangers (like myself) and still wish to persue the
freedom of flight.
My two cents.
Don.

D.A.L wrote:

"

I think we all need to blame gravity, or maybe the earth, or maybe the adventurous spirit of man. He chose to do what he
did. Freedom is a wonderful thing. It does have its responsibilities though. Ignorance can be bliss, and it can kill
you.


Why are you people not trying to shut down the gun manufactures or
porsche or ferrari? They all produce/sell products to anybody who
walks through their doors and have no conscience or even give a rats
behind if those people go out and kill themselves or anybody else. Gun
manufacturers even refuse to adjust the trigger presure so that
children (who they know might or do have access) can'nt fire a bullet!
I won't even talk about the tobaco or alchohol producers! You guys
blame Dennis for the plight of people who 'know not what they do'
and/or do not fully respect the dangers of aviation. Most people fully
understand the dangers (like myself) and still wish to persue the
freedom of flight.

You need to do some homework. There have been many lawsuits attempting
to shut down gun manufacturers. The trial lawyers are trying to make
gun makers the next silicon implant/tobacco/asbestos class action sham.


Matt

Hello, Matt!
You wrote on Fri, 18 Jun 2004 18:46:37 -0400:

Wow, lawyers! Next - GM, Ford, etc - then Boeing (more people have died in
Boeings than all private planes combined)

The problem with this Mini500 debacle lies not with the craft that seems to
have been well enough designed, but rather with the fact that the
owner/builder was not qualified to build such a potentially dangerous
machine. The seller and the buyer were both naive.

I own a Cobra replica. I will certainly not try to push this vehicle to
beyond its reasonable limits. I also know that any changes I make to
critical parts could have far reaching implications. If the manufacturer
told me to make changes I would do so. Same goes for the chopper. Ignoring
factory mods can only be your own problem. The worst though is that the
chopper could kill innocent bystanders - a fact that makes adherence to
factory mods all the more important.

But then I know quite a few pilots and most of them think they know it all!
Could explain many of the problems experienced. Mind you, not having known
any of those killed, I can only speculate.

If you buy a gun/boat/sportscar/plane/chopper, you know what you are letting
yourself in for. If you go as far as building it yourself, well need I say
more!



?? "
??
?? I think we all need to blame gravity, or maybe the earth, or maybe
?? the adventurous spirit of man. He chose to do what he did. Freedom is
?? a wonderful thing. It does have its responsibilities though.
?? Ignorance can be bliss, and it can kill you.
??
?? Why are you people not trying to shut down the gun manufactures or
?? porsche or ferrari? They all produce/sell products to anybody who
?? walks through their doors and have no conscience or even give a rats
?? behind if those people go out and kill themselves or anybody else. Gun
?? manufacturers even refuse to adjust the trigger presure so that
?? children (who they know might or do have access) can'nt fire a bullet!
?? I won't even talk about the tobaco or alchohol producers! You guys
?? blame Dennis for the plight of people who 'know not what they do'
?? and/or do not fully respect the dangers of aviation. Most people fully
?? understand the dangers (like myself) and still wish to persue the
?? freedom of flight.

MW You need to do some homework. There have been many lawsuits attempting
MW to shut down gun manufacturers. The trial lawyers are trying to make
MW gun makers the next silicon implant/tobacco/asbestos class action sham.


With best regards, ahlbebuck. E-mail:

ahlbebuck wrote:
The problem with this Mini500 debacle lies not with the craft that seems to
have been well enough designed, but rather with the fact that the
owner/builder was not qualified to build such a potentially dangerous
machine. The seller and the buyer were both naive.


Well, I admit I know more afterwards then I knew beforehand.

Dennis Fetters