# Accident 20070524012969A: Westld WASPHASMK1, Ramona, CA, May 24, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 2007, 19:50 local time
- Place: Ramona, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1508° N, 116.9381° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1508&lon=-116.9381&mi=10
- Aircraft: N612VH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N612VH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Westland WASP HAS MK1 (registry code 9640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/westland-wasp-has-mk1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WESTLD WASPHASMK1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA173) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070524012969A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT ABOUT 200 FEET AND 100 KNOTS, THE CYCLIC CONTROL STARTED TO OSCILLATE AND BECAME HARD TO OPERATE. A VIBRATION WAS DETECTED AND FEELING THAT HE MAY BE LOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT INITIATED A RAPID DESCENT. WHEN THE HELICOPTER NEARED THE GROUND, THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CONTROLS AND THE TAILROTOR/TAILBOOM HIT THE TOP OF A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE THE LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THERE WERE ONLY MINOR INJURIES, BUT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. CAUSE HAS NOT YET BEEN ESTABLISHED DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND LACK OF TECHNICAL DATE PERTAINING TO THIS HELICOPTER. THIS IS AN OLDER FOREIGN (BRITISH) HELICOPTER OPERATED IN EXPERIMENTAL EXHIBITION CATEGORY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX07LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA173), May 25, 2007: Westland Helicopters Wasp HAS MK1 (N612VH), Ramona, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from a tree while performing a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the failure of a snubber dampener that induced a severe vibration in…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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