Amateur-built ROTORWAY 162F EXEC accident near Mcmurray, Pennsylvania, May 6, 2000
On May 6, 2000 at about 2:10 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY 162F EXEC (helicopter), registered N162RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcmurray, Pennsylvania. 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 improper in-flight planning and decision to hover out of ground effect which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2000 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mcmurray, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY 162F EXEC ROTORWAY 1
- Registration
- N162RS · no longer on the register · serial 6284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot hovered the helicopter out of ground effect about 200-300 feet above ground level. While in the hover, the helicopter began a slow turn to the left even with full right anti-torque pedal applied. The pilot was not aware of his rotor RPM or heading when the helicopter began to turn. He attempted to recover by lowering the collective, but continued to lose altitude. The pilot landed on a sloped hillside and the helicopter rolled over on to its right side. On scene examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical deficiencies. Review of the flight manual's height velocity envelope revealed that the pilot operated in an area where out of ground effect hovers should have been avoided.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,878 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 796 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 4, 2000; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RI-162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Allegheny PA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from AGC, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.