Amateur-built EXECUTIVE accident near Colorado Spring, Colorado, January 9, 1988
On January 9, 1988 at about 6:29 pm local time, a amateur-built EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N7007B, was destroyed in an accident near Colorado Spring, Colorado (Colorado Springs Muni 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 1988 · about 6:29 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Spring, Colorado · Colorado Springs Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXECUTIVE
- Registration
- N7007B · no longer on the register · serial 2924
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT CONTACTED GROUND CONTROL & WAS CLEARED TO TAXI FROM A HANGAR ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ARPT TO A HANGAR ON THE NORTH END VIA TWY-A. TWY-A WAS LOCATED 400' WEST & PARALLEL TO RWY 17/35. THE PLT SAID HE WAS AIR TAXIING THE HELICOPTER JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE AT 3 TO 5 KTS WHEN AN AIR FORCE C-141 MADE A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING ON RWY 17. THE C-141 LIFTED OFF ABOUT 500 TO 1000 FT AHEAD OF THE HELICOPTER & WAS AT AN ESTD 50 TO 100 FT AGL WHEN IT PASSED ABEAM OF THE HELICOPTER'S PSN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE HELICOPTER ENCTRD WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE C-141. THE PLT TRIED TO COMPENSATE FOR PITCHING & ROLLING, BUT THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & WAS DAMAGED. THE WIND WAS RPRTD FROM 130 DEG AT 5 KTS. THE PLT WAS CERTIFICATED FOR FIXED WING ACFT & WAS ENDORSED TO AIR TAXI THIS HELICOPTER, MAKE HOVER TURNS & FLY IN GROUND EFFECT BELOW TRANSLATION SPEED (15 KTS). THE ATC HANDBOOK DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS AIR TAXIING, BUT IT REQUIRED 3 MIN SEPN BHND A HVY JET DEPG OR MAKING A LOW/MISSED APCH ON THE SAME OR PARALLEL RWY W/I 2500'.
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
- Flight time: 281 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 197 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from COS
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.