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CHI92LA233

1992-08-09 · MADISON, South Dakota, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND INADVERTENT DESCENT.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED HE ENTERED A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN ABOUT 200-300' ABOVE LAKE MADISON. HE SUDDENLY REALIZED HE HAD LOST CONSIDERABLE ALTITUDE AND WAS IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK. HE SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL THE HELICOPTER AND GAIN ALTITUDE BUT STRUCK THE WATER. HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PRE IMPACT MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE HELICOPTER. A POST CRASH INSPECTION DID NOT DISCOVER ANY PREEXISTING MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_CHI92LA233.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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