Amateur-built Exec 162F accident near Prosser, Washington, November 6, 2003
On November 6, 2003 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Exec 162F (helicopter), registered N6463S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prosser, Washington (Prosser 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 abrupt application of excessive collective and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student. Contributing factors were the ditch and low rotor RPM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 2003 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Prosser, Washington · Prosser · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Exec 162F
- Registration
- N6463S · no longer on the register · serial 6463
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on an instructional flight, the flight instructor demonstrated a takeoff from a slope to the student pilot (owner) and then gave control of the rotorcraft to the student to execute a similar maneuver. The first attempt was aborted and the maneuver was re-initiated. On the second try the student rolled the rotorcraft to a level attitude but then failed to neutralize cyclic before attempting to liftoff. The student then abruptly applied collective and the rotorcraft began rolling left rapidly, lifting off and entering an immediate left rotation about five feet above ground. The instructor took control of the rotorcraft and attempted to regain directional control. He did not reduce throttle as the rotorcraft was over a ditch, which he did not want to land in. Without a throttle reduction the rotorcraft continued to rotate through four revolutions before RPM had decayed to an extent that sustained flight was no longer possible. The rotorcraft then touched down clear of the ditch while still rotating and immediately rolled onto its left side.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 611 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 553 as pilot in command; 114 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 21, 2003; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S40 Prosser WA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PSC, 24 miles away
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.
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.