Event GAA19CA519

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

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-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