# NTSB ERA24LA244: Ruth Hummingbird, N331PF, New Hill, NC, June 1, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2024, 20:40 local (Jun 1, 2024, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: New Hill, NC
- Coordinates: 35.68111, -78.93555 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6811&lon=-78.9356&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 April 9, 2026
- 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): 194381
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA244
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194381/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194381
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA244

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering.

## 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: [John Preston Ruth HUMMINGBIRD 300L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639Y5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [John Preston Ruth HUMMINGBIRD 300L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05639Y5), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: [John Preston Ruth HUMMINGBIRD 300L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05639Y5), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

**This report was modified on 4/2/2026. Please see the docket for the original report.** During an evening test flight, the pilot was hovering the experimental amateur-built helicopter just above the ground to track the main rotor blades with light emitting diodes (LEDs) attached to the blade tips to address a main rotor vibration. He stated that he was distracted by the LED lights and lost control of the helicopter and that “there was nothing wrong with the aircraft.” The helicopter came to rest on its side and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Although the pilot reported no control issues with the helicopter, both the FAA inspector who examined it and the kit manufacturer reported deficiencies with the pilot’s build that would be expected to adversely affect its handling characteristics. According to the kit manufacturer, these included the installation of nonstandard flight control components (from a different helicopter make and model) and other modifications from the original design. However, the extent to which the pilot’s modifications contributed to the outcome could not be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331PF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N331PF), registered now, S/N 1907, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ruth Hummingbird (300L)
- Registry model: [John Preston Ruth HUMMINGBIRD 300L](https://openairdocs.org/model/john-preston-ruth-hummingbird-300l) (registry code 05639Y5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-540-series) (registry code 17051, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1907
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 85.3
- Engines: Continental VA540NND1NG 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2024, 85.3 hours before
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review September 21, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 85 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observed at: TTA, 10 nm away
- METAR: KTTA 010045Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 16/13 A3024 RMK AO2 T01640130

## 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 20240531019879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240531019879A), May 31, 2024: John Preston Ruth HUMMINGBIRD 300L, New Hill, NC, Substantial damage. During sequential hovering to track main rotor blades, aircraft was difficult to control. PIC reported cyclic moving in a semicircular motion periodically in a…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194381. 17.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17251420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA244%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17258818&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of record - FAA correspondence (amended) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20184750&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA244%20Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Correspondence_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17250897&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA244%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- Petition for reconsideration (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 2 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20194738&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=73431_inc_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB response to petition (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20194397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Final%20PFR%20Response%20ERA24LA244_Redacted-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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