Amateur-built FERRI EXEC accident near Delray Beach, Florida, September 6, 1993
On September 6, 1993 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built FERRI EXEC (helicopter), registered N71714, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delray Beach, Florida. It was a personal 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 pilot-in-command's improper use of the flight controls (cyclic and collective) during a simulated autorotation, resulting in an in flight collision with terrain and subsequent roll over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1993 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Delray Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FERRI EXEC
- Registration
- N71714 · no longer on the register · serial 90-06-101E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was demonstrating an autorotation with power recovery to his passenger. The deceleration and initial collective pitch pull was late, and rotor rpm was low. The pilot lowered the collective pich to increase rotor rpm and the helicopter started spinning to the left. Right antitorque pedal was applied with negative results, and the helicopter continued to spin through 360 degrees. The pilot lowered collective pitch and the helicopter collided with the terrain and rolled over on its left side. The pilot stated he made no attempt to stop the rotation by increasing throttle before the helicopter collided with the terrain.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 139 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 27, 1993; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 152RW (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from PBI, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.