# Accident 20140811015319A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N, Idaho Falls, ID, August 11, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 11, 2014, 20:00 local time
- Place: Idaho Falls, ID
- Airport: Idaho Falls Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4617° N, 112.0150° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4617&lon=-112.0150&mi=10
- Aircraft: N18GH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18GH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N (registry code 3027374, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-500n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20R (registry code 54183, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 500N
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20R
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA341) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140811015319A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE RESIDENCE, THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 40 TO 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) WHEN HE LOST TAIL ROTOR CONTROL.  THE HELICOPTER BANKED TO THE LEFT AN IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ROTATE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT DESPITE HIS CONTROL INPUTS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND IT IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, FUSELAGE, AND TAILBOOM WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## 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 WPR14LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA341), Aug 12, 2014: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N (N18GH), Idaho Falls, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would…

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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