20021019031369A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr SCORPION* · Opelousas, LA · October 19, 2002

Date: October 19, 2002 · 14:20 local
Place: Opelousas, LA
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N838MC
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW03LA018
Reported as: Amtr SCORPION*
Pilot’s certificate: Student

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During landing the pilot experienced a 25 knot gust of wind. The pilot lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter then started spinning. The helicopter impacted the ground hard and rolled on its right hand side causing the main rotor blades to contact the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING LANDING THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A 25 KNOT GUST OF WIND. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER THEN STARTED SPINNING. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD AND ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT HAND SIDE CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO CONTACT THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW03LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOpelousas, LAThe pilot's inadequate compensation for wind resulting in a loss of control. A contributing factor was the gusting wind conditions.Oct 19, 2002 · Substantial damage