Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE accident near Toccoa, Georgia, March 24, 1995
On March 24, 1995 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N34WR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toccoa, Georgia (Toccoa Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 1995 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Toccoa, Georgia · Toccoa Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N34WR · no longer on the register · serial 3246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A FULL STOP LANDING, AND WAS ON DOWNWIND LEG FOR THE SECOND APPROACH, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED A FORCED LANDING AREA AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE GLIDE. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE AND THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR A COMPONENT FAILURE. A REVIEW OF WEATHER DATA DISCLOSED THAT CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT CARBURETOR HEAT WAS NOT USED DURING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 3 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1994; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,424 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOC at 2:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,003 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from AND, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.