# NTSB CHI06CA116: Palulis John Exec 162F, N42996, Kalkaska, MI, April 16, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 16, 2006, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Kalkaska, MI
- Coordinates: 44.734722, -85.181945
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7347&lon=-85.1819&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63596/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA116

## Probable cause

The compensation for wind conditions not performed by the pilot during hover.  An additional cause was the tailwind.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - weather condition - tailwind (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, descent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The experimental amauter-built helicopter impacted terrain when a reported wind gust raised the tail and pushed the helicopter forward resulting in a loss of control and a hard landing.  The helicopter was piloted by a student pilot who did not have a current solo endorsement.

## Factual narrative

On April 16, 2006, at 1030 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Palulis Exec 162F, N42996, owned and piloted by a student pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a hard landing near Kalkaska, Michigan.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The pilot was uninjured.  The local flight originated from the pilot's property near Kalkaska, Michigan, at 1000.

The student pilot stated that he was "hovering back" to the hangar when a gust of wind from behind picked up the tail and pushed the helicopter forward.  There was a "loss of control," and the helicopter "set down hard."

The student pilot stated that he received the following student endorsements:

Hover on February 17, 2005

Solo on September 16, 2005

Cross Country on November 23, 2005

The student pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he didn't think he needed a current student solo endorsement; because, the flight was to take place on the pilot's property.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42996](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42996-2018-04-19), registration cancelled 2018-04-19, S/N 6444, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Palulis John Exec 162F
- Registry model: [Palulis John EXEC 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/palulis-john-exec-162f) (registry code 05619CB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 6444
- Engines: unknown 162-F reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: PVT, Kalkaska, MI
- Destination: PVT, Grand Rapids, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 56; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 79 total, 79 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20060416011109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060416011109A), Apr 16, 2006: Amtr EXEC162F, Kalkaska, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was practicing hover maneuvers at his house and while helicopter was heading downwind pilot lost control and helicopter drifted into…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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