Amateur-built BOB'S EXECUTIVE accident near Sanger, California, September 3, 1990
On September 3, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BOB'S EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N8153R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sanger, California. 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
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A HOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sanger, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BOB'S EXECUTIVE BOB'S EXEC
- Registration
- N8153R · registry record · serial RS32146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THIS NON-REGISTERED EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A HOVER. THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP, ROLLED LEFT, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY STATED HE LOST CONTROL DUE TO 'PILOT ERROR' BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 150 HOURS WITH ABOUT 48 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL.
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: 150 hours in all; 48 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW153 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:50 pm from FAT, 4 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.