MD Helicopters 369 N509CG

Summary

On 22 September 2020 at about 20:24 local time, a MD Helicopters 369 registered N509CG was involved in an accident near Chemehuevi Valley, California, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

22 September 2020 at 20:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Chemehuevi Valley, California, United States

Nearest airport

Chemehuevi Valley (49X)

Coordinates

34.5289, -114.4320

Aircraft

MD Helicopters 369

Registration

N509CG

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Havasu City → Lake Havasu City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA323

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an approach with a gusting variable wind, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, he was decelerating the helicopter while on approach to the runway with a gusting variable wind when the helicopter unexpectedly yawed to the right. He applied full left anti-torque pedal input to no avail, so he applied forward cyclic to increase forward airspeed, but the helicopter continued to spin clockwise. He immediately reduced power to land, but the left skid struck a bush and the helicopter impacted terrain and rolled over, coming to rest on its left side. The fuselage and the tail boom were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.