# NTSB GAA18CA110: Helicopteres Guimbal Cabri G2, N989HH, Cahokia, IL, January 22, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 22, 2018, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Cahokia, IL - Coordinates: 38.571388, -90.154441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5714&lon=-90.1544&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96643 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96643/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96643 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA110 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain yaw control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: 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) - [Maneuvering-hover: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: 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) - [Other: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=9000001), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter flight instructor reported that the student pilot was performing a normal approach to a hover with a quartering gusting headwind. He added that he "reminded" the student of the need to anticipate right pedal input as they applied power to terminate to a hover. Subsequently, the student pilot did not add sufficient "right pedal," and the helicopter immediately and very rapidly yawed to the left. The flight instructor said, "my controls," and attempted to recover, but the helicopter continued to spin counterclockwise, touched down, and then rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor system. The flight instructor and student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 170° at 11 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The student pilot attempted to hover on runway 12L. ## Factual narrative The helicopter flight instructor reported that, the student pilot was performing a normal approach to a hover with a quartering gusting headwind. He added that, he "reminded" the student of the need to anticipate right pedal input as they applied power to terminate to a hover. Subsequently, the student pilot did not add sufficient "right pedal", and the helicopter immediately and very rapidly yawed to the left. The flight instructor said, "my controls" and attempted to recover, but the helicopter continued to spin counterclockwise, touched down and rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor system. The flight instructor and student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport reported, about the time of the accident that the wind was from 170° at 11 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The student pilot attempted to hover on runway 12L. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N989HH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N989HH-2019-07-10), registration cancelled 2019-07-10, S/N 1124, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HELICOPTERES GUIMBAL CABRI G2 (NO SERIES) - 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: 1124 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 850.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: D H Helicopter Inc - Registered owner: D H Helicopter Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 2017 - Departed: CPS, Cahokia, IL - Destination: CPS, Cahokia, IL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CPS, St Louis Downtown, runway 12L, 5,301 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 2, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 203 total, 75 in this make and model, 119 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 16, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,015 total, 5 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: KCPS ## 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 20180122006109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180122006109A), Jan 22, 2018: Gumbal CABRI G2, Cahokia, IL, Destroyed. A new student pilotand his instructor were attempting to land at cps. According to the instructor, upon landing they encountered a sudden gust of wind, the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96643. 1.4 MB in all. - Accident Pictures (Courtesy of FAA) (item 1, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.