Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, May 13, 1998
On May 13, 1998 at about 11:10 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N4561C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana (Porter County 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 not maintaining adequate clearance with the ground during hover. Factors which contributed to this accident were the pilot's execution of a hovering turn at too low of an altitude, inadequate preflight preparation, and failing to remove the transport wheels from the helicopter skids prior to flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1998 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Valparaiso, Indiana · Porter County Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N4561C · no longer on the register · serial 5212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot pushed the helicopter out of the hangar, preflighted it, started it, and warmed it up to operating minimums. He lifted off of the ground to an approximate height of 12 inches. That is when he heard a 'clunk' from behind him. The pilot said that he thought that something might have gone through the tail rotor, so he turned the helicopter to the left 180 degrees. Seeing nothing, the pilot decided to set down. At that point, the helicopter pitched over on it's right side. The pilot said that he 'neglected to remove the transport wheels' before flight. Examination of the helicopter revealed that both transport wheels were installed on the skids.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,329 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,887 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1997; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RI-162 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VPZ at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from VPZ
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.