Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC accident near Kirkland, Washington, August 14, 1992
On August 14, 1992, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC (helicopter), registered N7014N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kirkland, Washington. 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
CYCLIC CONTROL MOVEMENT WAS RESTRICTED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1992
- Place
- Kirkland, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N7014N · registry record · serial 3035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT JUST AFTER LIFT OFF FROM A DOCK, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE WATER LEVEL AND 200 YARDS FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT, THE CYCLIC CONTROL BECAME VERY STIFF AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DOCK, HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM THE LANDING AREA, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS. DUE TO THE RESTRICTED LANDING AREA AND PEOPLE ALONG THE SHORE, THE PILOT DITCHED THE HELICOPTER IN THE LAKE. DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE, THE CONTROL MECHANISM WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE PILOT FELT THAT THE DACRON BUSHING IN THE SLIDER BALL MECHANISM MAY HAVE EITHER SWELLED OR TIGHTENED CAUSING UNDUE PRESSURE IN THE HUB ASSEMBLY.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,540 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW 152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.