History and mysteries · Flying W Airport, Medford
Flying W: a broken throttle linkage and a forced landing (2017)
Documented history · Source reviewed
The NTSB distinguished the maintenance failure that created an emergency from the loss of rotor speed during the landing attempt.
Power without effective control
On September 8, 2017, a Schweizer helicopter crashed during a forced landing at Flying W Airport, killing the pilot and passenger. The passenger had been taking a pleasure flight before a scheduled concert.
After takeoff, the pilot reported that twisting the throttle no longer changed engine speed. Three instructors discussed landing options over the radio. They favored a powered landing and repeatedly advised delaying any engine shutdown until the aircraft was over the runway.
Two parts of the finding
The pilot instead shut down outside the runway and attempted an unpowered descent. The NTSB concluded that entering this maneuver too early and failing to maintain rotor speed caused the uncontrolled descent.
Investigators also found evidence that an improperly adjusted throttle linkage separated in flight. Inadequate thread engagement had allowed its parts to disconnect. Maintenance failure was therefore a contributing cause, not something erased by the finding about the final maneuver.
Sources and research limits
NTSB final report ERA17FA317, analysis, probable cause and flight-history sections, pages 1–4. The original radio recording and video were not independently reviewed.