N92785

Substantial
None

Sud Aviation SE 3130 ALOUETTE IIS/N: 1236

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, January 4, 2020
NTSB Number
WPR20CA059
Location
Mokelumne Hills, CA
Event ID
20200107X14009
Coordinates
38.295555, -120.720832
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during a hover-taxi, which resulted in the helicopter's skid contacting grass and a subsequent dynamic roll-over.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N92785
Make
SUD AVIATION
Serial Number
1236
Year Built
1958
Model / ICAO
SE 3130 ALOUETTE II

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
HERTZIG JOHN W
Address
9267 HIGHWAY 26
Status
Deregistered
City
MOKELUMNE HILL
State / Zip Code
CA 95245-9618
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that after about 20 minutes of flight, he returned to a private runway. The pilot descended to the runway and he began a hover-taxi to the other end. While hovering, the right skid made contact with the grass adjacent to the runway. The helicopter rolled over on its right ride, damaging the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that he thought that the accident could have been prevented if he had a faster and quicker reaction time.

The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR20CA059