Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

October 29, 1996 · Ken Seright Rotorway EXEC 162F Rotorway E · N711KN

Haines, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 29, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Haines, AK
Aircraft
Ken Seright Rotorway EXEC 162F Rotorway E
Tail Number
N711KN
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC97LA005

The certificated private airplane pilot, the sole occupant & holder of a solo endorsement for helicopters, was beginning a cross-country flight in an experimental homebuilt helicopter. After takeoff, he heard a sharp bang & observed smoke in the cockpit. He declared an emergency, entered an autorotation, & selected an emergency landing area on a beach, but the area was covered with large boulders. During the flare & landing, the engine responded momentarily, when the pilot raised the collective pitch control, but the engine did not have sufficient power to hover. The helicopter sustained damage to the landing gear skids, the tail rotor, & the tail boom structure adjacent to the tail rotor assembly. An exam revealed the engine compartment was coated with engine coolant. The air intake filter was saturated with coolant, & 1 electronic ignition system was rendered inoperative from coolant saturation. A pressure test of the coolant system revealed a leak & spraying of coolant from a coolant pump manifold fitting. The pilot indicated the fitting had a rubber hose attached by a clamp, & coolant was leaking at the attach point. Also, he said the hose had been installed with excessive tension at the fitting due to it being 1/2 inch too short. He had accrued 47 hrs in helicopters.

NTSB Probable Cause

a leaking coolant hose that saturated the induction air filter and one electronic ignition system with coolant. Unsuitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor in the accident.

Full Narrative

On October 29, 1996, about 0737 Alaska standard time, an experimental Ken Seright, Rotorway Exec 162F helicopter, N711KN, crashed during a forced landing, about 7 miles south of Haines, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country instructional flight when the accident occurred. The helicopter, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Haines airport at 0730. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Juneau Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) reported that following an engine failure, the pilot made an emergency landing on the beach near Seduction Point located on the Chilkat Peninsula. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported he departed Haines for a flight to Juneau, Alaska. After departure, the pilot climbed to 2,000 feet mean sea level and then heard a sharp bang. He then observed smoke in the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency and entered an autorotation. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on a beach but the area was covered with large boulders. During the flare and landing, the engine responded momentarily when the pilot raised the collective pitch control but the engine did not have sufficient power to hover. The helicopter sustained damage to the landing gear skids, the tail rotor, and the tail boom structure adjacent to the tail rotor assembly. The pilot reported that a postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed the engine compartment was coated with engine coolant. The air intake filter was saturated with coolant and one electronic ignition system was rendered inoperative from coolant saturation. A pressure test of the coolant system revealed a leak and spraying of coolant from a coolant pump manifold fitting. The pilot indicated the fitting has a rubber hose attached by a clamp and coolant was leaking at the attach point. The pilot stated the hose was placed in excessive tension at the fitting due to it being 1/2 inch too short. The pilot did not provide information on the tightness of the hose clamp. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. In the pilot/operator report the pilot submitted to the NTSB, he indicated having accrued 340 hours total time, including 47 hours in helicopters. The pilot received a student pilot endorsement for helicopters from the Rotorway training school. The Rotorway company documented the pilot's instruction for solo flight operations in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 61.87. The endorsement included restrictions of operations in wind conditions over 10 MPH; hovering maneuvers were to be conducted in-ground effect; and flights were to be conducted as to avoid operation in the shaded area of the aircraft's height/velocity envelope.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time02:37 AKST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftKen Seright Rotorway EXEC 162F Rotorway E
Tail NumberN711KN
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotorway · 162F · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 3 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingOvercast 7000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 25 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data