Rotorway EXEC-90 N89678
8 December 1993 · Chandler, Arizona, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 8 December 1993 at about 15:00 local time, a Rotorway EXEC-90 registered N89678, operated by Cobb International Inc., was involved in an accident near Chandler, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Chandler, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Stellar Airpark (P19)
- Coordinates
- 33.3192, -111.8691
- Aircraft
- Rotorway EXEC-90
- Registration
- N89678
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Cobb International Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA069
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FOLLOW THE AIRCRAFT BALLASTING PROCEDURES THAT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN THE HELICOPTER'S CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS WERE EXCEEDED. INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE TRAINING FLIGHT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS PROVIDING HELICOPTER INSTRUCTION TO A SECOND PILOT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. A MOVEABLE BALLAST WEIGHT IS UTILIZED ON THE HELICOPTER TO ASSURE THAT THE CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS ARE NOT EXCEEDED. THE BALLAST WEIGHT IS POSITIONED ALONG THE CENTERLINE OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT IS OCCUPIED BY TWO PERSONS. THE WEIGHT IS POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SKID TUBE WHEN THE HELICOPTER IS OCCUPIED BY ONLY ONE PERSON. AFTER COMPLETING SOLO HOVER MANEUVERS, THE INSTRUCTOR BOARDED THE HELICOPTER AND INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO FLY BACK TO A COMPANY BUILDING. THE BALLAST WEIGHT WAS STILL POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT SKID. AFTER TAKEOFF WITH THE TWO OCCUPANTS, THE HELICOPTER PITCHED NOSE DOWN. THE NOSE AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Rotorway EXEC accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Dec 1993 | Rotorway EXEC-90 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Cobb International | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1991 | Rotorway EXEC 90 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Rotorway International | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 May 1996 | Rotorway EXEC 9 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1996 | Rotorway EXEC 90 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Jun 1996 | Rotorway EXEC 152 | Gretna, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 1989 | Rotorway EXEC | Palmyra, Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 1993 | Piper PA-23-150 | Eloy, Arizona, United States | R.finkenbine & R. Kestler | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 1993 | Bell 206L1 | Tusayan, Arizona, United States | Papillon Airways, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Nov 1993 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Buckeye, Arizona, United States | LOU ANN Behringer | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 May 1993 | Mooney M20J | Sedona, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Apr 1993 | Beechcraft 58 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | JAY M. Supkoff | Fatal | 2 |
| 3 Dec 1993 | Braegger GL NIEUPORT 17 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Michael K. Braegger | No injuries | - |