# NTSB CEN20CA064: Guimbal Cabri G2, N715RK, Independence, IA, January 21, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 21, 2020, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Independence, IA
- Coordinates: 42.456111, -91.945274 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4561&lon=-91.9453&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Des Moines FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100848/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100848
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA064

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering to land, which resulted in impact with an airplane and a hangar.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that he "lost control" of the helicopter as he maneuvered over the ramp for a landing toward the south into wind. The student was unable to regain control of the helicopter, and it subsequently impacted an unoccupied airplane and a hangar. Airport security video footage showed the helicopter approaching the ramp in a hover-taxi heading east before it entered an increasingly rapid left spin as it drifted north toward the airplane and hangar. A review of the video of the accident did not reveal any evidence of a bird strike or visible hydraulic systems failure. The helicopter cabin and tailboom sustained substantial damage. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The student stated that the wind direction might have changed during the landing; however, a postaccident review of available weather data revealed that the wind was likely from the south about 12 to 13 knots.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot, who was flying solo, reported that he "lost control" of the helicopter as he maneuvered over the ramp for a landing toward south and into the wind. The pilot was unable to regain directional control before the helicopter impacted an unoccupied airplane and a hangar. Airport security video footage showed the helicopter had approached the ramp in a hover-taxi heading east before it entered an increasingly rapid left spin as it drifted north toward a parked airplane and a hangar. The helicopter cabin and tail boom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The pilot stated that the wind direction might have changed during the landing; however, a postaccident review of available weather data confirmed that the wind was likely from the south at 12-13 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N715RK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N715RK-2022-03-17), registration cancelled 2022-03-17, S/N 1255, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Guimbal Cabri G2
- Registry model: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2](https://openairdocs.org/model/helicopteres-guimbal-cabri-g2) (registry code 9000001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1255
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 154.5
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: University of Dubuque
- Registered owner: H&H Helicopter, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 12, 2019
- Departed: MXO, Monticello, IA
- Destination: IIB, Independence, IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: IIB, Independence Municipal Airport
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 65 total, 65 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observed at: IIB

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20200121000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200121000069A), Jan 21, 2020: Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, Independence, IA, Substantial damage. The student pilot flying solo was attempting to execute a 180 deg turn to the left prior to landing the helicopter on the ramp. The helicopter entered an…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100848. 11.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 910 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9443841&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of conversation (qasem jaafari) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9444088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Qasem%20Jaafari)-Rel.pdf
- Witness statement (ryan cavin) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9443515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Witness%20Statement%20(Ryan%20Cavin)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (brian lundquist) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9443850&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Brian%20Lundquist)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport security video 1 (item 5, MP4, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9443718&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=05%20-%20Airport%20Security%20Video%201-Rel.mp4
- Airport security video 2 (item 6, MP4, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9443898&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=06%20-%20Airport%20Security%20Video%202-Rel.mp4
- Photo (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9443907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=07%20-%20Photo-Rel.pdf
- Weather (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9616680&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20(IIB)-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of conversation (brian lundquist) (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9951207&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Brian%20Lundquist)-Rel.pdf
- Security video - specialist's study report (item 10, PDF, 15 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9745223&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20CA064%20Video%20Study-Rel.pdf

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.

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