# NTSB ERA25LA160: Rotorway Exec, N8318A, Chuluota, FL, March 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 28, 2025, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Chuluota, FL · Private property - Coordinates: 28.626864, -81.103605 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6269&lon=-81.1036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - 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): 199943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199943/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199943 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA160 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control of the helicopter during takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic 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: [David M Leblanc 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=056301M), [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: [David M Leblanc 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056301M), [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. - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [David M Leblanc 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=056301M), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot of the helicopter reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoff, hover, and landing maneuvers from his private grass field. During takeoff, he increased the engine power and inadvertently applied right cyclic concurrently as he raised the collective. Subsequently, the helicopter’s right skid dug into the ground, resulting in a dynamic rollover. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its main rotor blades and tail boom structure. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8318A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8318A), registered now, S/N 6955, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROTORWAY EXEC (162F) - Registry model: [David M Leblanc 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/david-m-leblanc-162f) (registry code 056301M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotorway RI-162F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-ri-162f) (registry code 55007, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 6955 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 211 - Engines: Rotorway RI 162F 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 2, 2025, 5 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: pvt, pvt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 52.5 total, 5.5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 18 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: SFB, 12 nm away - METAR: KSFB 282053Z 14018KT 10SM BKN050 24/13 A3022 RMK AO2 PK WND 14026/2043 SLP232 T02440128 58020 ## 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 20250328002289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250328002289A), Mar 28, 2025: David M Leblanc 162F, Chuluota, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft [privacy data omitted] recently purchased aircraft two weeks ago and decided to practice "hovering" in his back yard. [privacy data omitted]Pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199943. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18788855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18787404&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Pilot confirmation of accident date (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18860560&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Confirmation%20of%20Accident%20Date_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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.