# NTSB SEA06CA069: Kearsley Exec 162F, N520DK, Morgan, UT, March 22, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 22, 2006, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Morgan, UT - Coordinates: 41.013332, -111.623336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0133&lon=-111.6233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63382/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to attempt to hover out of ground effect above the kit manufacturers published recommendations. A factor was mountainous terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - out of ground effect - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - performance data - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he departed from his home, which is at approximately 5,000 feet elevation. He said that he came to a hover at approximately 10 feet above a ridge line to look at a herd of elk. He said he had an estimated 10 knot tail-wind, which reduced the helicopter's tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot said that the helicopter settled into some brush on the side of the ridge, and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter came to rest at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The maximum hover out of ground effect altitude, published by RotorWay International, for the Exec 162F, is 5,000 feet. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2006, at approximately 1530 mountain standard time, a Kearsley, RotorWay Exec 162F, homebuilt experimental helicopter, N520DK, was substantially damaged when it settled to a ridge top and rolled onto its left side near Morgan, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot/builder was operating the helicopter under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local elk watching flight that originated from the pilot's home approximately 20 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he departed from his home, which is at approximately 5,000 feet elevation. He said that he came to a hover at approximately 10 feet above a ridge line to look at a herd of elk. He said he had an estimated 10 knot tail-wind, which reduced the helicopter's tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot said that the helicopter settled into some brush on the side of the ridge, and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter came to rest at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The maximum hover out of ground effect altitude, published by RotorWay International for the Exec 162F, is 5,000 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N520DK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N520DK), registered now, S/N 6776, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kearsley Exec 162F - Registry model: [Kearsley Douglas EXEC 162 F](https://openairdocs.org/model/kearsley-douglas-exec-162-f) (registry code 05619K6) (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: 6776 - Airframe hours: 45 - Engines: Rotorway RI 162F 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas I. Kearsley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE, Morgan, UT - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 45 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: HIF, 15 nm away ## 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 20060322003789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060322003789A), Mar 22, 2006: Amtr EXEC162F, Morgan, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 22, 2006, at 1530 MST, a rotorway international amatuer built helicopter N520DK, s/n 6776, piloted by [privacy data omitted] with one passenger… 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.