Amateur-built HELICYCLE accident near Mobile, Alabama, January 8, 2026
On January 8, 2026 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2003 amateur-built HELICYCLE (helicopter), registered N3722T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mobile, Alabama. 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 failure to maintain yaw control during a crosswind approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, an uncommanded spin, hard landing, and subsequent rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2026 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mobile, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HELICYCLE, built 2003
- Registration
- N3722T · registry record · serial 02-018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the approach to land at an off-airport location, the helicopter entered an uncommanded right rotation. He attributed the loss of control to unfavorable winds and described the event as consistent with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He was unable to regain control, and the helicopter continued to descend in a spiraling right spin before it impacted the ground and rolled over. As a result, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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 tail rotor effectiveness during landing defining event
- Roll over during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 205 hours in all; 89.9 in this make and model; 1.7 in the last 90 days; 1.4 in the last 30 days; 120.7 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,225.5 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 15, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Solar T62-T-32 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Dauphin Island AL at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from BFM, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBFM 082053Z 16008KT 10SM FEW035 23/18 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP156 T02280183 56019
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N3722T Rollover
Photograph 2 – Substantial damage to frame
Photograph 3 – Impact damage horizontal stabilizerThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 14, 2026. 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Email Correspondence, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | 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.