N715RK

Substantial
Serious

Guimbal Cabri G2S/N: 1255

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
NTSB Number
CEN20CA064
Location
Independence, IA
Event ID
20200123X80253
Coordinates
42.456111, -91.945274
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

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

Registration
N715RK
Make
GUIMBAL
Serial Number
1255
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2019
Model / ICAO
Cabri G2G2CA
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
6000 DOUGLAS DR N
Status
Deregistered
City
CRYSTAL
State / Zip Code
MN 55429-2314
Country
United States

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