Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC accident near Gallup, New Mexico, October 1, 1999
On October 1, 1999 at about 12:45 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC (helicopter), registered N716JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Gallup Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot inadvertently allowing main rotor rpm to decay while avoiding obstacles during an emergency autorotation following a loss of power for reasons undetermined. Factors were houses and powerlines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1999 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Gallup Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N716JB · registry record · serial EXEC-3000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot remained in the traffic pattern to practice touch and go landings. At approximately the point where the helicopter would turn onto the base leg, rotor rpm began to decay (95%). The pilot turned towards the runway and began autorotation. During the descent, the pilot managed to avoid houses and powerlines. The helicopter struck the ground tail first, then rolled over on its left side. The engine was later functionally tested and, despite impact damage to the crankshaft, operated normally.
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: 158 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GUP NM at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 7,312 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from GUP
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.
Other NTSB records under N716JB 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.