# NTSB ERA23LA233: Rotorway Exec, Akron, OH, May 10, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 10, 2023, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Akron, OH · In pilot's backyard
- Coordinates: 41.036793, -81.409247
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0368&lon=-81.4092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 174542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA233
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/174542/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174542
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA233

## Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the unregistered helicopter during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot/owner was operating the unregistered experimental helicopter in his back yard, when he attempted to lift the skids off the ground “a few inches.” When the pilot set the helicopter back down on the ground, it rolled over onto its left side resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The main rotor system, including the controls for the cyclic were also damaged from impact. Though the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land, he was not certificated to act as a pilot in helicopters.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROTORWAY EXEC (90)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: None
- Year built: 2023
- Engines: Rotorway International 152 152 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: VIto Scafido
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: None
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 718 total, 654 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: KCAK, 7 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCAK 101651Z VRB03KT 10SM SCT250 19/03 A3022

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174542. 8.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15902163&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA memorandum of record - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15901366&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15625001&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=OSP%20written%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Police report (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15624794&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=OSHP%20Report%20of%20Investigation%20Scafido_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB summary of email - FAA (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15904296&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15901570&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf

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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