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LAX89LA251

1989-08-10 · SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SDL

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

IMPROPERLY USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER.

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. AS HE WAS BEGINNING HIS SECOND TAKEOFF, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. DURING THE OCCURRENCE, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPER ROLLED-OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM; NO PRE-ACCIDENT ABNORMALITIES WERE OBSERVED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_LAX89LA251.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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