Amateur-built ROTORWAY WR EXEC accident near Hudsonville, Michigan, April 18, 1992
On April 18, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY WR EXEC (helicopter), registered N6617L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hudsonville, Michigan. 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 FAILURE OF AN INTAKE VALVE SPRING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED AND THE SOFT TERRAIN ON WHICH THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hudsonville, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY WR EXEC ROTORWAY W
- Registration
- N6617L · no longer on the register · serial 10001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBING OUT FROM TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE HELICOPTER WAS 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE PILOT HAD TO INITIATE A FORCED LANDING. AN AUTO ROTATION CONFIGURATION WAS ATTEMPTED BUT NOT FULLY ESTABLISHED DUE TO THE LOW INITIATING ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED ONTO A SOFT FIELD AND ROLLED OVER AFTER ITS SKIDS DUG INTO THE SURFACE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN INTAKE VALVE SPRING.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 7.3 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 207 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,340 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW152/1947 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; ovct at 800 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N6617L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.