Amateur-built EXECUTIVE accident near El Monte, California, October 15, 1985
On October 15, 1985 at about 5:43 pm local time, a amateur-built EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N2071Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Monte, California (El Monte airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1985 · about 5:43 pm local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · El Monte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXECUTIVE
- Registration
- N2071Z · no longer on the register · serial 2593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ROTORCRAFT MADE A HARD TOUCHDOWN FROM A HOVER WHILE ON A PRACTICE FLT. THE PLT HAD NOT BEEN SIGNED OFF FOR SOLO FLT IN A ROTORCRAFT, HELICOPTER CATERGORY AND CLASS. THE PLT HAD PRACTICED SOLO IN THIS ACFT BEFORE BUT HAD STAYED AT VERY LOW ALT (SKID-LIGHT) ON FORMER OCCASIONS. THIS TIME HE RAISED THE HOVER TO A CLAIMED MAX OF 2 FT OFF THE RAMP. HE PRACTICED TWO HOURS AND BELIEVED THAT FATIGUE CAUSED LOSS OF CONCENTRATION FOLLOWED BY 'COMING DOWN ON THE SKID TOO HARD.'
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
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-133 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.