Amateur-built Rotorway 162-F accident near Englewood, Colorado, July 9, 2002
On July 9, 2002 at about 1:38 am local time, a amateur-built Rotorway 162-F (helicopter), registered N30319, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial Airport). It was a flight test 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 encountering settling with power. A factor contributing to the accident was the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2002 · about 1:38 am local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial 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 162-F
- Registration
- N30319 · registry record · serial 3279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was doing hover testing of his helicopter. He said the tower cleared him to aerial taxi from a hangar on the east side of the field to the compass rose. The pilot said to get to the compass rose, he determined he would have to fly west toward a building on the airport and then turn south to fly behind the building (the west side of the building), and stay between the building and taxiway A, the north-south parallel taxiway to the runway. The pilot said that as he passed behind the building, "I think I experienced a tailwind. The helicopter began losing power and lift. I set up to do a skidding landing. The helicopter skidded and tipped forward, caught the rotor on the ground." The pilot said, "I experienced settling with power and did not have enough altitude to fly out of it." The wind conditions reported 15 minutes after the accident were 360 degrees at 11 knots. An examination of the helicopter revealed no preimpact anomalies.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 465 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 20, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 23, 2002; 2.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 1:36 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from APA, 1 miles away
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.