Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE accident near Endicott, New York, September 17, 1992
On September 17, 1992 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N727TB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Endicott, New York (Tri-Cities airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1992 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Endicott, New York · Tri-Cities · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N727TB · no longer on the register · serial 3664
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS FROM A HOVER ONTO A DOLLY WHICH WAS ABOUT 18 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE TOUCHED THE HELICOPTER DOWN TOO FAR AFT ON THE DOLLY. HE SAID HE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IN FULL UP-COLLECTIVE CONTROL BUT THE TAIL SKID HAD ALREADY CONTACTED EITHER THE DOLLY OR THE RAMP. THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES DISINTEGRATED. HE SAID THE HELICOPTER WENT THROUGH A 360-DEGREE SLOW TURN DUE TO LACK OF TAIL ROTOR TORQUE CONTROL AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT SKID BENT 45 DEGREES FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION DUE TO THE SIDEWARD FORCE. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO INITIAL IMPACT.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,034 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 12,959 as pilot in command; 885 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1992; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N727TB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.