21 Jan 2020: Guimbal Cabri G2 — University of Dubuque

21 Jan 2020: Guimbal Cabri G2 — University of Dubuque

No fatalities • Independence, IA, United States

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering to land, which resulted in impact with an airplane and a hangar.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The student pilot, who was flying solo, reported that he "lost control" of the helicopter as he maneuvered over the ramp for a landing toward south and into the wind. The pilot was unable to regain directional control before the helicopter impacted an unoccupied airplane and a hangar. Airport security video footage showed the helicopter had approached the ramp in a hover-taxi heading east before it entered an increasingly rapid left spin as it drifted north toward a parked airplane and a hangar. The helicopter cabin and tail boom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The pilot stated that the wind direction might have changed during the landing; however, a postaccident review of available weather data confirmed that the wind was likely from the south at 12-13 knots.

Contributing factors

  • cause Performance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Effect on operation
  • cause Effect on operation
  • cause Student/instructed pilot

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 170/12kt, vis 7sm

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