Amateur-built SCORPION II accident near Cornish Flat, New Hampshire, December 28, 1994
On December 28, 1994 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SCORPION II (helicopter), registered N65562, was destroyed in an accident near Cornish Flat, New Hampshire. 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
PARTIAL FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT PARTIAL SEPARATION OF SKIN ON THE UNDERSIDE OF ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE, WHICH RESULTED IN A SEVERE VIBRATION, IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AND IMPACT WITH THE GROUND DURING AN ATTEMPTED AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 1994 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cornish Flat, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SCORPION II SCORPION I
- Registration
- N65562 · no longer on the register · serial 110749
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE KIT BUILT HELICOPTER WAS ON FINAL APPROACH, WHEN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A 'SEVERE' VIBRATION. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER ROTATED 180 DEGREES, AND STRUCK THE GROUND TRAVELING BACKWARDS. THE LOWER SURFACE OF ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIP TO WITHIN 30 INCHES OF THE HUB. THE ALUMINUM BLADES HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 51 HOURS AND HAD BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY THE KIT BUILDER.
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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 35 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-152G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N65562 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.