Amateur-built EXECUTIVE accident near Chandler, Arizona, December 31, 1992
On December 31, 1992 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N43385, was destroyed in an accident near Chandler, 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
AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 1992 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EXECUTIVE
- Registration
- N43385 · no longer on the register · serial E-3413
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WHO IS ALSO THE OWNER OF THE HELICOPTER, REPORTED THAT THE STUDENT HAD LIFTED OFF AND ACHIEVED A FORWARD AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 40 KNOTS AT 10 FEET AGL WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE OIL AND WATER TEMPERATURE INDICATORS WERE INCREASING RAPIDLY. HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND TURNED TO LAND IN THE ALFALFA FIELD USED FOR TAKEOFF AND THE COCKPIT SUDDENLY FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER WITH SOME FORWARD MOMENTUM AND IT ROLLED OVER AFTER THE SKIDS DUG INTO THE GROUND. THE INSTRUCTOR AND HIS STUDENT ESCAPED THROUGH THE COCKPIT WINDSHIELD AS THE HELICOPTER ERUPTED INTO FLAMES, WHICH TOTALLY CONSUMED THE HELICOPTER. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE BURNED REMAINS AND REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING ALL HOSES AND ACCESSORY FITTINGS, WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,869 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 2,375 as pilot in command; 428 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1992; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-162 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.