Amateur-built Hummingbird accident near New Hill, North Carolina, June 1, 2024
On June 1, 2024, a 2021 amateur-built Hummingbird (helicopter), registered N331PF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near New Hill, North Carolina. 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's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2024
- Place
- New Hill, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Hummingbird 300L, built 2021
- Registration
- N331PF · registry record · serial 1907
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
**This report was modified on 4/2/2026. Please see the docket for the original report.** During an evening test flight, the pilot was hovering the experimental amateur-built helicopter just above the ground to track the main rotor blades with light emitting diodes (LEDs) attached to the blade tips to address a main rotor vibration. He stated that he was distracted by the LED lights and lost control of the helicopter and that “there was nothing wrong with the aircraft.” The helicopter came to rest on its side and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Although the pilot reported no control issues with the helicopter, both the FAA inspector who examined it and the kit manufacturer reported deficiencies with the pilot’s build that would be expected to adversely affect its handling characteristics. According to the kit manufacturer, these included the installation of nonstandard flight control components (from a different helicopter make and model) and other modifications from the original design. However, the extent to which the pilot’s modifications contributed to the outcome could not be determined.
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 in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 85 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 21, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 85.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 2024; 85.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental VA540NND1NG (piston); 85 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from TTA, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTTA 010045Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 16/13 A3024 RMK AO2 T01640130
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 2, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record - FAA Correspondence (Amended) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Petition for Reconsideration | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | NTSB Response to Petition | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.