Rotorway Rotorway Exec 90 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, February 25, 2002
On February 25, 2002 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Rotorway Rotorway Exec 90 (helicopter), registered N9876D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. It was an instructional 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
The student's inadvertent over control of the throttle mechanism, which resulted in the bending of the throttle mechanical stop and binding the linkage in the idle position. Also causal was the CFI's inadequate supervision. A factor in the accident was the CFI's inability to add engine power due to the bent throttle mechanism during a practice autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2002 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rotorway Rotorway Exec 90
- Registration
- N9876D · no longer on the register · serial R15160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental helicopter made a hard landing following a practice autorotation and loss of engine power. During the third practice autorotation, the student informed the instructor that he was unable to reintroduce power during the autorotation recovery. The instructor took control of the helicopter and attempted to roll the throttle up; however, he found it would not rotate any further. The instructor raised the collective at 10 feet agl in an attempt to cushion the landing. The helicopter hit the ground hard, the left skid collapsed, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. Examination of the helicopter revealed the mechanical stop for the throttle was bent causing a condition in which the engine would stay at ground idle once the throttle was rolled past over center near the ground idle position. Once the linkage was driven over center, the linkage could not be moved by the throttle control A post accident run of the engine revealed no additional anomalies.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,198 hours in all; 936 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 1,132 as pilot in command; 936 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 108 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 22, 2002; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RI-162 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P19 Chandler AZ at 9:10 pm
- Destination: P19 Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from PHX, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N9876D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.