# NTSB ERA24LA083: Rabe Richard Exec 162F, N60932, Tuscumbia, AL, December 16, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 16, 2023, 10:37 local (16:37 UTC)
- Place: Tuscumbia, AL
- Coordinates: 34.710658, -87.725081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7107&lon=-87.7251&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- 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): 193602
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193602/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193602
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA083

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter, which resulted in the right skid contacting the ground and a subsequent rollover.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rabe Richard EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05610NU), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rabe Richard EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610NU), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Rabe Richard EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05610NU), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Rabe Richard EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610NU), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rabe Richard EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05610NU), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was practicing hovering without the supervision of a flight instructor. The pilot reported that the winds were gusty and he estimated the surface winds to be about 10 to 15 mph. The pilot stated he started to drift and attempted to make a turn; during the turn, the pilot realized he was too close to some objects, and he began to panic. The pilot lowered the collective and the back right skid contacted the ground, after which he pulled up on the collective and lost control of the helicopter. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled over into a ditch; the pilot evacuated and a post-accident fire ensued, resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60932](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60932), registered now, S/N 6429, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RABE RICHARD EXEC 162F
- Registry model: [Rabe Richard EXEC 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/rabe-richard-exec-162f) (registry code 05610NU) (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: 6429
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 150.9
- Engines: Rotorway RI 162F 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 3, 2023, 10 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 38 total, 15 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: MSL, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMSL 161653Z AUTO 14009KT 10SM OVC080 14/05 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP227 T01390050=

## 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 20231216022199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231216022199A), Dec 16, 2023: Rabe Richard EXEC 162F, Tuscumbia, AL, Destroyed. While hovering, the pilot lost control of the helicopter allowing the main rotor to impact the ground. Aircraft was destroyed in a post crash fire.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193602. 18.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 16.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16729150&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20ERA24LA083%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16728896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20Pilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16728957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20Investigation%20Photographs-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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