Amateur-built ROTOWAY EXEC 152 accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas, May 10, 1991
On May 10, 1991, a amateur-built ROTOWAY EXEC 152 (helicopter), registered N316FV, was destroyed in an accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE LOOKOUT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRES FOR SAFE OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1991
- Place
- Jonesboro, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTOWAY EXEC 152 ROTOWAY EX
- Registration
- N316FV · no longer on the register · serial 8819
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS INITIAL REPORTS THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN HE SAW WIRES IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CLIMBED TO AVOID THEM. IN THOSE REPORTS, HE STATED THAT HIS SKIDS CAUGHT ON THE TOP WIRE AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED INVERTED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE INITIAL REPORTS DID NOT CONTAIN ANY INFORMATION REGARDING MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, ON HIS PILOT/OPERATOR ACCIDENT REPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEVELOPED A VIBRATION IN THE ROTOR SYSTEM AND THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHEN HE STRUCK THE WIRES. THE WIRES WERE STRUCK, CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 682 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 830 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Truman AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.