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ERA25LA160

2025-03-28 · Chuluota, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PVT

Current FAA registration · N8318A

Make / Model
ROTORWAY INTL EXEC 162F
Year of manufacture
2011 · 14 years old at event
Engine
ROTORWAY RI 162F (150 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20111130
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB5F82

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control of the helicopter during takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

Factual narrative

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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_ERA25LA160.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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