Aurora PAV accident near Manassas, Virginia, June 4, 2019
On June 4, 2019 at about 11:19 am local time, a Aurora PAV (helicopter), registered N83AU, was substantially damaged in an accident during uncontrolled descent near Manassas, Virginia (Manassas airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). The NTSB record does not give the injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of hover lift thrust provided by the eight lift motors due to a false on-ground rotor speed reduction command, resulting from excessive vibration.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2019 · about 11:19 am local time
- Place
- Manassas, Virginia · Manassas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aurora PAV
- Registration
- N83AU · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft experienced a vibrational excitation environment which exceeded the previously measured accelerations used to establish an autopilot ground-sensing threshold. The excessive oscillations activated the ground-sensing system, which transitioned the autopilot from Autoland into "ground" mode and commanded a reduction in rotor speed.
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
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during uncontrolled descent defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Auto flight system › (general) › Malfunction
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 3: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 4: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 5: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 6: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 7: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 8: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 9: Magicall (electric); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHEF Manassas VA at 11:01 am
- Destination: KHEF Manassas VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34L, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KHEF
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 1, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Report from Party | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Party Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.