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Location:
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Holley, New York
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Accident Number:
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ERA25LA282
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Date & Time:
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July 30, 2025, 14:00 Local
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Registration:
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N843WB
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Aircraft:
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PAUL DENNIS BERG EXEC 162F
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Dynamic rollover
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Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Personal
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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.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with the ground while hovering, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Findings
Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Monitoring environment - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-hover Dynamic rollover (Defining event)
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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63,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 3 Without
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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May 25, 2025
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|
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waivers/limitations
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|
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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August 30, 2023
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Flight Time:
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747 hours (Total, all aircraft), 120 hours (Total, this make and model), 602 hours (Pilot In
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|
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Command, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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PAUL DENNIS BERG
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Registration:
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N843WB
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|
Model/Series:
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EXEC 162F NO SERIES
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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|
Year of Manufacture:
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2019
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Amateur Built:
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Yes
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Experimental (Special)
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Serial Number:
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6437
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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2
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Date/Type of Last
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October 24, 2024 Condition
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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1500 lbs
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Inspection:
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|
|
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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9 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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119 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Rotorway
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|
ELT:
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C91 installed, not activated
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Engine Model/Series:
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162
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Registered Owner:
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On file
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Rated Power:
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120 Horsepower
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|
Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s)
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None
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|
|
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Held:
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|
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KROC,540 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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18 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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13:54 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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127°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Few / 4400 ft AGL
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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Broken / 28000 ft AGL
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Visibility (RVR):
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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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8 knots / None
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Turbulence Type
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Unknown / None
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|
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Forecast/Actual:
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|
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Wind Direction:
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20°
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Turbulence Severity
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Unknown / N/A
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|
|
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Forecast/Actual:
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|
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.04 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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29°C / 19°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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|
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Departure Point:
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Holley, NY
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Holley, NY
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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|
Departure Time:
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|
Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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NONE PVT
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Runway Surface Type:
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|
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Airport Elevation:
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363 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Unknown
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Runway Used:
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
|
|
VFR Approach/Landing:
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None
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
|
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Passenger
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N/A
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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|
Injuries:
|
|
|
|
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Ground Injuries:
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|
Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Latitude,
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43.29899,-78.003241(est)
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|
|
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Longitude:
|
|
Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Monville, Timothy
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|
Additional Participating
|
Michael A. Mantione; FAA/FSDO; Rochester, NY
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|
Persons:
|
|
|
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Original Publish Date:
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November 20, 2025
|
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Last Revision Date:
|
|
|
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Investigation Class:
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Class 4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200673
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.
The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.
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