Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, and adequate clearance, which resulted in a collision with a hangar.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, after landing the helicopter in front of a hangar, the helicopter began to rise and tilt. He increased the collective and "over corrected" with the cyclic, which resulted in the main rotor impacting the hangar. The helicopter settled onto the concrete apron and rolled over resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor blades. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA14CA413 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 17, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hayesville, North Carolina
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Robinson Helicopter R44
- N-number
- N752EC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2009
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.