Summary
On January 21, 2020, a Guimbal Cabri G2 (N715RK) was involved in an accident near Independence, IA. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering to land, which resulted in impact with an airplane and a hangar.
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.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN20CA064. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N715RK.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering to land, which resulted in impact with an airplane and a hangar.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN20CA064