Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE accident near Enumclaw, Washington, June 25, 1995
On June 25, 1995 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (helicopter), registered N336CS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Enumclaw, 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 POWER SURGE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE DURING THE AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1995 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Enumclaw, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N336CS · no longer on the register · serial 3448
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 300-400 FT, THE ENGINE SURGED. HE REDUCED COLLECTIVE AND EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION, AND STATED THAT HE SHUT OFF THE MAGNETOS AND ATTEMPTED AN UNSUCCESSFUL RESTART. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE HARD LANDING WITH SOME FORWARD VELOCITY. THE REASON FOR THE POWER SURGE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 35,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 65 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 28, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,290 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW-152 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WN87 Buckley WA at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from SEA, 18 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.