Plane Crash List

Ayres SCORPION EXECUTIVE N3903C

4 November 1996 · Union Vale, New York, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 4 November 1996 at about 21:00 local time, a Ayres SCORPION EXECUTIVE registered N3903C was involved in an accident near Union Vale, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 21:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Union Vale, New York, United States
Nearest airport
Sky Acres (44N)
Coordinates
41.7300, -73.6906
Aircraft
Ayres SCORPION EXECUTIVE
Registration
N3903C
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
IAD97LA015

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, which resulted in a subsequent emergency landing and collision with a fence and a cherry picker (vehicle). A factor relating to the accident was: the student pilot's lack of experience in the type helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot (SP) was hover taxiing his helicopter. The SP said that during a subsequent climb to 300 feet, the helicopter felt 'heavy and anemic.' He also said '... the helicopter was exhibiting flight characteristics I didn't like....' The helicopter traveled past the taxiway end, and the SP decided to do a circuit in the pattern. He said when he attempted a left turn, the helicopter started to lose altitude. He also stated that flight control problems required him to performed an emergency landing. During the emergency landing, the helicopter impacted a chain link fence, and the main rotor blade struck a cherry picker (vehicular equipment). Examination of the helicopter revealed no preimpact abnormalities with the engine or flight controls. The SP did not have a solo endorsement for the flight. His reported total flight experience in helicopters was 41 hours, of which, 1 hour was in this make and model of helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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no coordinates
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