GAA19CA519
2019-08-27 · San Diego, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed
Airport SEE
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to maintain yaw and pitch control while repositioning the helicopter, which resulted in dynamic rollover.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that, after landing on the helicopter landing platform, he decided to reposition the helicopter on the platform. He increased collective and, "felt as if the nose was turning or yawing to the right." To correct the right yaw he applied, "more left pedal but the aircraft continued in its movement." The helicopter rolled to the right and the main rotor blades struck the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, after landing the helicopter on the landing platform, he decided to reposition it on the platform. He said that he increased the collective and that it "felt as if the nose was turning or yawing to the right." To correct the right yaw, he applied left pedal, but the helicopter continued moving right. The helicopter rolled to the right, the main rotor blades struck the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Yaw control-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2019_GAA19CA519.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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Related research
Matched on aircraft type. All research papers
- NASA NTRS 2019 · Preprint (Draft being sent to journal) Terrain Portrayal for Head-Down Displays Flight Test
The Synthetic Vision Systems General Aviation (SVS-GA) element of NASA's Aviation Safety Program is developing technology to eliminate low visibility induced General Aviation (GA) accidents through th…
- NASA NTRS 2010 · Abstract Emerging Standards for Aerodrome Mapping Databases and Datalink Technologies to Enable Reductions in Runway Incursions/Excursions
The integration of onboard databases with data linked aeronautical information services (AIS) is a task that RTCA and EUROCAE are pursuing.