Amateur-built ROTORWAY accident near Salina, Kansas, December 2, 1995
On December 2, 1995 at about 9:05 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY (helicopter), registered N50235, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salina, Kansas (Salina Municipal Airport). 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 pilot's improper maintenance of the helicopter. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of proper certification for the operation of the helicopter and his lack of recent experience in type of aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1995 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Salina, Kansas · Salina Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY
- Registration
- N50235 · registry record · serial 3099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to check the cyclic rigging on the helicopter. This was to be the helicopter's first flight in three years since it was recently taken out of storage. After start up, the helicopter rolled over. The pilot stated that the cause of the accident was the over adjusting of the cycle control during the rigging procedure. The pilot has performed all inspections and rigging on the helicopter. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed that the pilot did not hold a valid medical, airman certificate, nor the student pilot endorsements required to operate the helicopter. The pilot also did not possess a Repairman Certificate.
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
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 158 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 19, 1989; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLN at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from SLN
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.