Pilot Debrief

MD HELICOPTERS MD-369 near Orchard Lake, MI — 2018-09-03

Final reportCEN18LA365
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Date
2018-09-03
Location
Orchard Lake, MI, USA
Airport
7MI1
Aircraft
MD HELICOPTERS MD-369
Registration
N1601Y
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Hover

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control and terrain clearance while in a hover after performing an evasive maneuver to avoid wildlife.

NTSB narrative

The helicopter departed from a wheeled helicopter transportation dolly at the pilot's private heliport and came to an in-ground-effect hover. The pilot indicated that as he was maneuvering the helicopter to the right of the dolly at a hover, a flock of Canada geese "came flying in to the front and right" of the helicopter. The pilot reported "quickly moving" the helicopter back to the right to avoid the birds; that was the last action he could remember until after the impact. The helicopter came to rest on its left side with the main rotor blades separated from the main rotor hub and the tail rotor gearbox separated from the tailboom. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's private heliport was near a lake where Canada geese are known to congregate. It is likely that, while in a hover and attempting to avoid the birds by performing an evasive maneuver, the pilot failed to maintain helicopter control and terrain clearance.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided maneuvering near the flock of geese.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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