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CHI91LA199

1991-06-21 · FARIBAULT, Minnesota, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FBL

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS WAS NOT ATTAINED BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A GUSTY CROSSWIND LANDING ENVIRONMENT.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS EXECUTING A 360 DEGREE TURN WHILE HOVER/TAXIING. THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY WHIPPED AROUND ITS AXIS OF ROTATION, IN THE GUSTY CROSSWIND ENVIRONMENT. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN UNCONTROLLED OSCILLATIONS AND STRUCK THE GROUND WITH A REARWARD MOMENTUM. THE TAIL CONE HIT THE GROUND AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO HIT THE GROUND REPEATEDLY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_CHI91LA199.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.