Amateur-built ROTORWAY "EXEC" accident near Quilcene, Washington, July 16, 1992
On July 16, 1992 at about 2:20 am local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY "EXEC" (helicopter), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quilcene, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A MISJUDGED DESCENT RATE, AND DELAYED CORRECTIVE ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE A LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT, AND A BUILDING NEAR THE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1992 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Quilcene, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY "EXEC" ROTORWAY "
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE UNREGISTERED EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER, WHO DID NOT HOLD AN FAA HELICOPTER PILOT CERTIFICATE, MISJUDGED HIS RATE OF DESCENT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE YARD OF HIS PRIVATE RESIDENCE. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS DELAYED BEYOND A POINT WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID CONTACTING THE ROOF OF A SMALL OUTBUILDING. AFTER CONTACTING THE OUTBUILDING, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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 UNREG 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.