Sud Aviation SE 3130 ALOUETTE II
Mokelumne Hills, CA — January 4, 2020
Event Information
| Date | January 4, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR20CA059 |
| Event ID | 20200107X14009 |
| Location | Mokelumne Hills, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.29556, -120.72083 |
| Airport | Private |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Sud Aviation |
| Model | SE 3130 ALOUETTE II |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during a hover-taxi, which resulted in the helicopter's skid contacting grass and a subsequent dynamic roll-over.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that after about 20 minutes of flight, he returned to a private runway. The pilot descended to the runway and he began a hover-taxi to the other end. While hovering, the right skid made contact with the grass adjacent to the runway. The helicopter rolled over on its right ride, damaging the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that he thought that the accident could have been prevented if he had a faster and quicker reaction time.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.