Rotorway EXEC-90 accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, December 28, 1993
On December 28, 1993 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Rotorway EXEC-90 (helicopter), registered N7456T, was destroyed in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. It was a ferry 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
A failure of the pilot-in-command to adequately conduct a preflight inspection and properly secure a fuselage cowling panel that struck a tail rotor blade, resulting in a subsequent failure of the tail rotor drive system. Factors in this accident were an in-flight separation of the cowling panel, and the inability of the pilot to effect directional control of the helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 1993 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rotorway EXEC-90
- Registration
- N7456T · registry record · serial RI5001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER WAS EXAMINED BY THE FAA AND ISSUED AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED ON A FERRY FLIGHT OF TWO HELICOPTERS TO RETURN TO THE HELICOPTER COMPANY BUILDING. AFTER DEPARTURE, THE SECOND AIRCRAFT OBSERVED AN OBJECT GO THROUGH THE ROTOR SYSTEM OF THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER. THE PILOT BEGAN A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, EXPERIENCED AN ANTI-TORQUE SYSTEM FAILURE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, A POSTCRASH FIRE CONSUMED 2/3 OF THE AIRCRAFT. ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY A FIBERGLASS COWLING PANEL THAT WAS LATER LOCATED ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,979 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 1,756 as pilot in command; 977 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 612 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 27, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway R-162 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Cobb International
The flight
- Destination: P19 Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Observation at 6:30 pm from SDL, 6 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.
Other NTSB records under N7456T 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.