Amateur-built EXEC 90 accident near Georgetown, Indiana, December 17, 1999
On December 17, 1999 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built EXEC 90 (helicopter), registered N990JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, Indiana. 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's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty tailwind condition and the low altitude at which the helicopter was hovering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 1999 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXEC 90
- Registration
- N990JR · no longer on the register · serial 3493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he lifted the helicopter off of the pad which was located to the east of a hangar/building. He reported the winds were from 260 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots. He reported he moved further east of the building in a two foot hover and was in an area where the helicopter was no longer protected from the winds by the building. He continued to report, 'Wind hit tail forcing helicopter to nose down attitude before being able to correct with cyclic aircraft contacted ground with left skid and rolled over.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 428 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 285 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1999; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW 152/162 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:40 pm from SDF, 15 miles away
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.
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.