Amateur-built ROTORWAY accident near Chandler, Arizona, January 13, 1995
On January 13, 1995 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY (helicopter), registered N9876D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Steller Airpark airport). 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 pilot's improper use of the helicopter's flight controls and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 1995 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Steller Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY
- Registration
- N9876D · no longer on the register · serial SC28
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING LANDINGS, THE STUDENT WAS HANDLING THE CONTROLS. THE CFI REPORTED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER WAS TOUCHING DOWN IT BEGAN DRIFTING 'SLIGHTLY LEFT.' THE LEFT SKID DUG INTO THE UNDERLYING SOFT GRASSY FIELD AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE WIND WAS CALM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,402 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 3,328 as pilot in command; 2,616 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 466 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 1, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-162 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rotorway International
The flight
- Departed from: P19 at 3:00 pm
- Destination: P19 AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°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.
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.