- Date
- May 14, 2026, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Twin Falls, ID
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N952SFMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20260514007189A
- Case key
- 202999
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control while hovering in gusty wind conditions, resulting in the helicopter rolling onto its side.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated he was maneuvering the helicopter around and near the airport property. While practicing hovering, he was evaluating the left lateral cyclic trim control. The helicopter encountered wind and rolled, coming to rest on its left side. During the accident sequence, the main rotor blades severed the tail boom from the airframe. The pilot stated there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N952SF
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0366E
- Built
- 1989
- Engine
- Allison 250C20B, 420 hp, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Interparts General Business Inc
- Registered owner
- Interparts General Business Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- TWF · Twin Falls, ID
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- TWF · Joslin Fld/Magic Valley Rgnl
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- BasicMed, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 15, 2024
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 9,700 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- KTWF, 1 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KTWF 142053Z 32011G17KT 10SM CLR 19/M03 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP146 T01941028 58022=
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.