Rotorway EXEC 9 accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 22, 1996
On May 22, 1996 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Rotorway EXEC 9 (helicopter), registered N89678, was substantially damaged 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
a loss of engine power due to a failed piston and piston ring in a critical phase of flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1996 · about 5:15 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
- Rotorway EXEC 9
- Registration
- N89678 · no longer on the register · serial RI 5026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The dual student began to apply power during a normal approach to landing when the main rotor rpm needle went into the yellow arc on the engine gauge. The CFI applied full power but the rpm continued into the lower portion of the arc. The helicopter made ground contact with low rotor rpm and the right skid collapsed. The helicopter bounced and rolled over. Examination of the engine revealed that a section of the piston from the dome to the first ring groove had broken away. The upper ring was broke and pieces were found in the combustion area. Normal carbon buildup was found on the cylinder sleeve above the top ring surface except in the area of the piston breakage, indicating that the engine had been operating for a period of time after the damage had taken place and before 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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 797 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 151 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 643 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 22, 1996; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 162 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P19 at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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 N89678 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.