What happened
On October 13, 2025, at 12:29 central daylight time, a Rotorway AG162 helicopter, N162AD, was conducting a Part 91 personal flight near Valley View, Texas. The pilot was en route to Hardy Field Airport when the aircraft experienced a decrease in main rotor speed.
The pilot reported that despite attempts to use engine and control inputs, the rotor speed could not be increased sufficiently to maintain altitude. Consequently, the pilot performed a forced landing into a field. During the landing sequence, the tailboom separated from the airframe, causing substantial damage to the helicopter. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were VMC with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 200 degrees at 10 knots.