Amateur-built H 13 accident near Zephyrhills, Florida, January 17, 2016
On January 17, 2016 at about 1:30 am local time, a 2005 amateur-built H 13 (helicopter), registered N9669, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Zephyrhills, Florida (Zephyrhills 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while on ground standing with the engine running during high crosswind conditions which resulted in a static rollover and collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2016 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Zephyrhills, Florida · Zephyrhills Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built H 13 D, built 2005
- Registration
- N9669 · registry record · serial T-3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental helicopter was returning from a local flight and landed near his hanger to drop off his passenger. After his passenger disembarked, the pilot was preparing to take off and reposition the helicopter to another spot, but before he added power for liftoff, a strong gust of wind struck the left side of the helicopter, thrusting the cyclic control out of his hand and hard over to the right. This caused the helicopter to lift up and roll onto its right side, causing substantial damage to the blades, engine mount, fuselage and tail boom. The pilot stated, it happened very quickly and there was no chance to recover. Post-accident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions which would have precluded normal operation. The wind at the time of the accident was from 240 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
- Dynamic rollover during standing (engine(s) operating)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,250 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 7, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2015; 258 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ZPH Zephyrhills FL
- Destination: ZPH Zephyrhills FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from ZPH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA16CA102.