Amateur-built Exec 162 F accident near Roseburg, Oregon, April 8, 2007
On April 8, 2007 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Exec 162 F (helicopter), registered N173ST, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roseburg, Oregon. 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
a total loss of engine power due to the failure of the primary and secondary electronic control units (ECU's) within the engine's Fully Automated Digital Electronic Control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2007 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roseburg, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Exec 162 F
- Registration
- N173ST · no longer on the register · serial 6721
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the amateur-built experimental-category helicopter experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot initiated an autorotation to a nearby field. During the auto rotational landing, the helicopter impacted terrain and subsequently slid into a fence. The pilot stated that as the engine lost power, he noticed the number one Fully Automated Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) light went off and that the secondary FADEC did not function. Examination of the FADEC Electronic Control Units (ECU) revealed that there was a discontinuity of the "L3" ferrite inductor on both the number one and two ECU circuit boards. The reason for both failures was undetermined.
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, student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 897 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 913 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 98 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 1, 2007; 7.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway R1-162F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Roseburg OR at 9:04 pm
- Destination: KRGB Roseburg OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KRGB, 5 miles away
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.