No fatalities

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF accident at Palm Gardens, NV, 6 May 2021

Palm Gardens, NV, United States

On May 6, 2021, a MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF operated by Summit Helicopters Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Palm Gardens, NV. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with a dust devil shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with a dust devil shortly after takeoff.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Yaw control — Not attained/maintainedPilotResponse/compensation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 6 May 2021 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF accident near Palm Gardens, NV?

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with a dust devil shortly after takeoff.

Were there any fatalities in the 6 May 2021 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 6 May 2021 involved a MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF, operated by Summit Helicopters Inc., at Palm Gardens, NV.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with a dust devil shortly after takeoff.