Amateur-built Rotorway Exec 162F accident near Meeker, Colorado, July 10, 2004
On July 10, 2004 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Rotorway Exec 162F, registered N518W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meeker, Colorado (Meeker airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
aircraft control not maintained by the pilot. A contributing factor was the failure of the supercharger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2004 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Meeker, Colorado · Meeker · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rotorway Exec 162F
- Registration
- N518W · no longer on the register · serial 6618
- 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 approximately 3 minutes after departing the airport, he heard a "loud squealing noise" from the engine and rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot initiated an autorotation at 1,200 feet agl and positioned the helicopter to land in a nearby field. The pilot stated that several feet off the ground he heard a "growling noise" and the helicopter "yawed to the right," approximately 70 degrees. The helicopter landed on the left skid and subsequently rolled onto its side causing substantial damage. According to the pilot, post accident examination revealed that the supercharger on the engine had failed.
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: 372 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 298 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway R1 162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EEO Meeker CO at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Craig CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 4:27 pm from EEO, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.