# NTSB ERA25LA282: Paul Dennis Berg Exec 162F, N843WB, Holley, NY, July 30, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2025, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Holley, NY · Reported to be in grass west of the building 1/2 way between the building and the tree line.
- Coordinates: 43.29899, -78.003241 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2990&lon=-78.0032&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025
- 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): 200673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA282
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200673/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200673
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA282

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with the ground while hovering, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul Dennis Berg EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05637JJ), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul Dennis Berg EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05637JJ), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Paul Dennis Berg EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=05637JJ), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the helicopter was practicing hovering and maneuvering just above the surface of the ground, around a cone. The pilot stated that because he was focused on the cone and not the helicopter’s altitude, the rear portion of the right skid contacted the ground resulting in dynamic rollover. The helicopter’s tailboom was substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N843WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N843WB), registered now, S/N 6437, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PAUL DENNIS BERG EXEC 162F (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Paul Dennis Berg EXEC 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/paul-dennis-berg-exec-162f) (registry code 05637JJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotorway RI-600](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-ri-600) (registry code 55011, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 6437
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 119
- Engines: Rotorway 162 120 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 24, 2024, 9 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PVT, None
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 30, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 747 total, 120 in this make and model, 602 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 28,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KROC, 18 nm away
- METAR: KROC 301754Z 02008KT 10SM FEW044 FEW095 SCT150 SCT200 BKN280 29/19 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02940189 10294 20211 58005

## 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 20250730015349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250730015349A), Jul 30, 2025: Paul Dennis Berg EXEC 162F, Kendall, NY, Substantial damage. On the day of the incident, the pilot executed maintenance procedures on the helicopter, including an engine oil change. Post-maintenance, the pilot initiated…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200673. 8.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19399454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of NTSB conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19399653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Paul%20Berg%208%2019%202025%20v02_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19399370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 592 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19399663&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_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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