Amateur-built Execytive 162F accident near Porter, Texas, June 8, 2006
On June 8, 2006 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Execytive 162F (helicopter), registered N17VH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Porter, Texas (Williams Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control after encountering dynamic rollover while hovering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2006 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Porter, Texas · Williams Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Execytive 162F
- Registration
- N17VH · registry record · serial 6684
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 38-hour student helicopter pilot stated he intended to practice hovering maneuvers over a grass apron adjacent to a taxiway at the airport. The pilot reported that while in the process of changing directions, while hovering at a skid height of 18 inches off the ground, the left landing gear skid came in contact with the ground and he was unable to stop or correct the rollover. The main rotor blades of the experimental single-engine helicopter were destroyed when the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The pilot, who held a private certificate in airplanes single-engine land, reported he had accumulated a total of 1,986 hours. In a narrative statement submitted by the pilot he added that "the accident was due solely to pilot error and did not involve any other aircraft, person, vehicles, or property."
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, student
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,986 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,908 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005; 28.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RI 162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9X1 Porter TX
- Destination: 9X1 Porter TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from IAH
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.