Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE accident near Newburgh, Indiana, July 15, 1988
On July 15, 1988 at about 6:03 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N3047, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newburgh, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1988 · about 6:03 pm local time
- Place
- Newburgh, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N3047 · registry record · serial RW 152-1717
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER WAS ON AN APCH TO LAND AT A PRIVATE HELIPORT. THE STUDENT PLT RPRTD THE HELICOPTER WAS AT APRX 50 FT AGL WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. SUBSEQUENTLY, DURING AN AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS OR FUEL LINES & NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE WAS FOUND.
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: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 33 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1988; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Madisonville KY at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.