Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE accident near Johnson City, New York, June 12, 1994
On June 12, 1994 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N727TB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johnson City, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. THIS LED TO A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1994 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Johnson City, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- 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 HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL WITH NO EFFECT. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED IN A SLOW SPIN TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE UTILIZED FULL UP COLLECTIVE JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AFTER GROUND CONTACT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT FAILED. THE PLIES ON THE BELT HAD SEPARATED. THE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT THE LAST INSPECTION, AND HAD ACCUMULATED 57.9 HOURS SINCE NEW. THE CHANGE-OUT TIME FOR THE BELT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDED THE KIT WAS 250 HOURS. A NEWER KEVLAR DRIVE BELT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. NO DISCREPANCIES OR UNRESOLVED OPEN ITEMS WERE FOUND IN THE MAINTENANCE LOG BOOKS.
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: 15,209 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 12,132 as pilot in command; 885 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 274 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 1993; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Discovery Hedge, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OIC Norwich NY at 7:50 pm
- Destination: N17 Endicott NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:26 pm from BGM, 3 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.
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.