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WPR21LA185

2021-05-06 · Palm Gardens, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with a dust devil shortly after takeoff.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the helicopter encountered a dust devil from the right side, which caused the helicopter to yaw right and descend. Despite the pilot’s best attempt to control the helicopter, it struck terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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.

  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Dust devil/whirlwind-Response/compensation
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Yaw control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_WPR21LA185.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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