Md Helicopters MD-369 N1601Y accident near Orchard Lake, Michigan

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 analysis

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.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN18LA365 for the full record.