Amateur-built 162-F accident near Brookhaven, New York, June 16, 2006
On June 16, 2006 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 162-F (helicopter), registered N549AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brookhaven, New York (Brookhaven Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot inadvertently allowing the skids to contact the ground resulting in dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2006 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brookhaven, New York · Brookhaven Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 162-F
- Registration
- N549AB · registry record · serial 6723
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of an experimental Rotorway 162-F was practicing hovering when the left skid of the helicopter made contact with the helipad, the helicopter rolled to the left, and the main rotor blades struck the ground. The student pilot stated that "I was hovering at about 2 inches which had the skids too close to the ground for my ability." At 1256 EDT, 26 minutes after the accident, the reported wind on the field was 310 degrees at 9 knots.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 166 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 98 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2006; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RI 162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHWV Brookhaven NY at 4:30 pm
- Destination: KHWV Brookhaven NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KHWV
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.
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.