Amateur-built EXEC90 accident near Searcy, Arkansas, June 8, 2003
On June 8, 2003 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built EXEC90 (helicopter), registered N8246J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Searcy, Arkansas. 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 unqualified maintenance performed by the pilot and the inadequate autorotation by the pilot. A factor contributing to this accident was the overtemperature of the engine cooling system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2003 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Searcy, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXEC90
- Registration
- N8246J · no longer on the register · serial 5148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter impacted terrain during an autorotation following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he received indications of an engine over temperature on a prior flight and upon landing saw that the belt driving the cooling system water pump had come off the pulley. He put the belt back on the pulley and ran up the engine while confirming that engine temperatures were within limits. The pilot noted he completed a normal takeoff after allowing the helicopter to hover for three to four minutes as he checked the engine temperature. The pilot stated the water temperature began rising rapidly during departure and the engine "immediately" began losing power. The pilot reported the engine lost power a few seconds later and he lowered the collective to begin an autorotation. The pilot noted the helicopter yawed to the right as he flared. The pilot stated the helicopter impacted the terrain, yawed 45 degrees to the right, and rolled over onto its left side.
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
- Flight time: 970 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 970 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 446 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2003; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Searcy AR at 8:15 pm
- Destination: PVT Searcy AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from SRC, 4 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.