Amateur-built EXEC accident near Richwood, Ohio, April 24, 2014
On April 24, 2014 at about 4:48 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built EXEC (helicopter), registered N43691, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Richwood, Ohio. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s inadequate autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and postcrash fire. Contributing was the flight instructor’s lack of experience in performing an autorotation in the accident make and model of helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2014 · about 4:48 pm local time
- Place
- Richwood, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXEC 162F, built 2006
- Registration
- N43691 · no longer on the register · serial 6615
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor heard a noise during cruise flight 800 feet above ground level and saw a caution light illuminate on the instrument panel during an instructional flight. He did not recall if there was a loss of engine power. He performed a precautionary autorotation, the helicopter landed hard, and a postcrash fire destroyed the helicopter. The flight instructor had not previously performed an autorotation in the helicopter make and model. The postcrash fire precluded functional testing of any of the helicopter's systems; however, examination of the helicopter did not reveal evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,313 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,228 as pilot in command; 2,149 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 3, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 18, 2013; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RI 162F (piston); 65 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DLZ Delaware OH at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Mt Victory OH
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:37 pm from DLZ, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on August 7, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Police Report | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Aircraft Logbook | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Logbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.