Pilot Injured, Wasp Prototype Damaged, Project On Hold

The HeloWerks HX-1 Wasp helicopter was damaged May 6th in a "freak landing accident" that sent test pilot, and company president, Tony Pena to the hospital. Aero-News has received a statement from company VP Bob Pegg, explaining the circumstances and what's known so far of the consequences, of the mishap.

As Pena (right) was returning to Hampton Roads Executive Airport in Chesapeake, VA from a test flight of approximately 30 minutes, he inadvertently toggled the fuel solenoids off, instantly killing the JFS turbine engine. The aircraft dropped like a stone.

"The helicopter was already in its landing flare, so it was too low to do an autorotation." Pegg said.  (You need either airspeed or altitude, preferably both, to safely autorotate to landing).

According to the statement, "[T]he helicopter dropped quickly to the ground, striking tail-first and shattering the tail rotor. The tail-strike caused one of the rotor blades to strike the tail boom. The helicopter then made a very hard landing, remaining in an upright position. The bows or cross-tubes connecting the landing skids absorbed much of the impact before breaking. The force of the impact continued upward in the helicopter, causing additional fairing and skin damage. There was no fire or fuel leakage."

The structure of the HX-1 prototype is hand-laid composite monocoque. The tail boom is alloy.

"We estimate the front of the helicopter impacted the ground at about 20 feet per second," Pegg said. (That's about the median descent rate of a round military parachute). "We think the high inertia of the rotor blades successfully decreased the rate-of-descent. As designed, the helicopter's structure absorbed much of the impact force and the cabin area remained relatively intact."

The initial on-scene stage of the investigation is complete, and the damaged helicopter is back with HeloWerks as of May 8. With Tony Pena recovering from back injuries, "HeloWerks has not made a detailed inspection or assessment of the helicopter," the company statement said. At a glance, the aircraft appears to be rebuildable.

We've followed the development of this experimental sport helicopter with interest, and were present when it first hovered in public, in 2005 (below) . Since then, Pena has continued to develop and refine the turbine-powered, composite rotorcraft, as well as expand the flight-test envelope. For example, our hovering pictures show an open tail rotor; the latest redesign of the machine has a guarded, almost fenestron-style tail rotor for increased safety.

Pena once worked with the moribund Ultrasport helicopter company before branching out on his own. Everyone who has seen the HeloWerks HX-1 has commented on the composite workmanship and the slick finish, including wild color-shifting paint stripes.

The plan was for HeloWerks to complete a thorough test flight program while investors supported kit production; they expected the kit to go for $70,000, a price competitive with other experimental helicopters. Pena and Pegg were unwilling to use kit-builder deposits to fund production; that Ponzi-scheme approach, once used by another vendor whose two-seat helicopter never flew despite brisk sales, has earned a bad name in the kit-helicopter world.

Now the fate of the project rests with Pena, who at press time had been released from hospital and is at home, recuperating from back injuries.

"The HX-1 WASP helicopter still appears to be a practical two-place, turbine-powered experimental helicopter, ideal for construction as a kit," Bob Pegg says optimistically. As more information is available, he'll have it posted on the HeloWerks website.

We've also asked him for updates on Tony Pena's recovery. Tony is one of the unique characters in experimental aviation, and all of us at Aero-News ask our readers to join us in best wishes and prayers for his rapid return to flying status.

FMI: www.helowerks.com