Amateur-built EXEC accident near Alva, Florida, June 14, 2024
On June 14, 2024 at about 10:27 pm local time, a 1999 amateur-built EXEC (helicopter), registered N99TE, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Alva, Florida (Alma 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
A loss of tail rotor control as a result of unsecured tail rotor drive belt tensioner bolts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2024 · about 10:27 pm local time
- Place
- Alva, Florida · Alma Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXEC 162F, built 1999
- Registration
- N99TE · registry record · serial 6306
- 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 amateur-built helicopter stated that, as a part of the preflight inspection, he checked the tail rotor drive belt tension with a spring scale and it was within limits. Shortly after departing on the accident flight, while flying at an altitude between 200 and 300 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot-rated passenger took over the controls. As they approached an airstrip for landing, at an altitude about 150 ft above ground level (agl) with an airspeed of 20-30 mph, which was just below effective translational lift (ETL), the helicopter made an uncommanded yaw to the left. The passenger was unable to maintain directional control with the application of right anti-torque pedal input. The pilot took over the controls from the passenger and applied forward cyclic in combination with full input of the right anti-torque pedal to correct the yaw. However, the helicopter descended in a sweeping left turn and the pilot was unable to regain full directional yaw control before the helicopter contacted the edge of an irrigation ditch. The helicopter rolled over to the right and came to rest, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe and rotor blades. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail rotor tensioner assembly was not secured. The right side of the tail rotor drive belt jam nut and the self-locking nylon nut were loose. The nuts, when properly secured, placed tension on the tail rotor drive belt. Even though the preflight tail rotor tension test was accomplished and within limits, there was no access to physically view these nuts during preflight inspection. Based on the available information, it is likely that the nuts loosened in flight, which would have allowed slack in the drive belt that prevented full tail rotor drive control
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 approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Flight control sys malf/fail during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor drive system › Tail rotor drive shaft › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 6,625 as pilot in command; 2,570 on instruments
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 415 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 21, 2024; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW162F (piston); 425 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Alva FL at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,882 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from FMY, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFMY 142153Z 22009KT 10SM SCT025 29/23 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP117 T02890228
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2025. 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 | Memo for Record_pilot Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memo for Record_faa Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | POH Excerpt_preflight Checklist | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photos_accident Site and Helicopter Damage | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA24LA263.