LAX83FA287

Factual narrative

THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A DEMONSTRATION FLT TO FAMILIARIZE THE PASSENGERS WITH THE HELICOPTER. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE PROCEEDED NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT AGL & 80 KTS IN WIND THAT WAS FROM THE WEST AT 25 GUSTING 30 KTS. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 3 MI, HE TURNED LEFT TOWARD A WESTERLY DIRECTION, USING APRX A 30 DEG BANK. HE STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO ROLLING OUT OF THE TURN, THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO RAPIDLY LOSE ALT & THE FORWARD & AFT CYCLIC CONTROL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HIS IMPUTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. HE BELIEVED THAT THE WIND HAD SHIFT & THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE TURNED DOWNWIND & BEGAN SETTING WITH POWER. ACCORDING TO A PASSENGER, WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS IN THE TURN TO THE WEST, HE FELT A THUMP, THE ACFT BEGAN CLIMBING, THEN WENT INTO A 360 DEG SPIN TO THE RIGHT. NO PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE 3 SERVO ACTUATORS WERE TESTED & ALL 3 FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. LOCAL PLTS REPORTED THE WINDS WERE OFTEN UNPREDICTABLE DUE TO ROLLING HILLS IN THE AREA. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12