NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA19CA141
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The flight instructor's failure to maintain sufficient altitude over uneven terrain during a hover taxi, which resulted in ground contact and a subsequent dynamic rollover.
Factual narrative
According to the flight instructor in the skid-equipped helicopter, he was going to demonstrate a maneuver to his airplane rated student. The instructor reported that he air taxied the helicopter to the departure end of the runway. He then slowed the helicopter down and while turning and hover taxiing over the grass area between the taxiway and the runway, the toe of the right skid contacted the uneven ground. The helicopter pivoted around the toe and rolled onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor systems. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. According to the flight instructor in the skid-equipped helicopter, he was going to demonstrate a maneuver to his airplane-rated student. The instructor reported that he air taxied the helicopter to the departure end of the runway. He then slowed down the helicopter, and while turning and hover taxiing over the grassy area between the taxiway and the runway, the right skid's toe contacted the uneven ground. The helicopter pivoted around the toe and rolled onto its side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor systems. The instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Instructor/check pilot - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
- — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Instructor/check pilot
- — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven terrain-Contributed to outcome
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2019_GAA19CA141.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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