Amateur-built Rotorway 162F accident near Jerseyville, Illinois, June 3, 2001
On June 3, 2001 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Rotorway 162F (helicopter), registered N242KA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jerseyville, Illinois. It was a personal 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 improper autorotation by the pilot. Contributing factors were the engine failure for undetermined reason(s) and the muddy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2001 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Jerseyville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rotorway 162F
- Registration
- N242KA · registry record · serial 6307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built helicopter impacted muddy terrain and rolled over when its skids became stuck in the mud during an emergency autorotation following a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that after the number one electronic control unit (ECU) had failed followed by the number two ECU failing while returning to the departure point at an airspeed of 40 mph and at an altitude of 100 feet agl. An operation at 40 mph and at 100 feet agl was within the shaded region of the height velocity envelope for the helicopter. A postaccident engine run was performed while operating on the primary and secondary fully automated digital electronic control systems. Inspection of the number one electronic control unit revealed two resistors damaged within its circuit board. The number one ECU was found to be inoperative during testing and the number two ECU did not communicate with the number one ECU.
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: 472 hours in all; 153 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 392 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 23, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 135.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 2001; 1.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Jerseyville IL at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from SET, 20 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.