Sud Aviation/Eurocopter ALOUETTE II SE313B N45VX

Summary

On 13 July 2012 at about 14:40 local time, a Sud Aviation/Eurocopter ALOUETTE II SE313B registered N45VX, operated by Priority Farms, was involved in an accident near Glenn, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 July 2012 at 14:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Glenn, California, United States

Coordinates

39.5089, -122.0414

Aircraft

Sud Aviation/Eurocopter ALOUETTE II SE313B

Registration

N45VX

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Priority Farms

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glenn → Glenn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA303

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a tailwind while hovering, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While hovering, the student pilot lost directional control, and the helicopter spun around to the left 3 1/2 turns before it impacted the ground and rolled over after the right skid collapsed. The pilot reported that there was a tailwind of about 5 knots. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and the main gear box frame. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.