Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2 accident near Madison, Illinois, July 19, 2022
On July 19, 2022 at about 3:27 pm local time, a 2019 Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, registered N457PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Madison, Illinois (St. Louis Downtown airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of tail rotor effectiveness resulting in an in-flight loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2022 · about 3:27 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Madison, Illinois · St. Louis Downtown · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, built 2019 · all CABRI G2s on the register
- Registration
- N457PA · registry record · serial 1247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice off-airport landings. On the fourth and final landing, they set up a steep approach with the student pilot on the flight controls. The helicopter was above the effective translational lift (ETL) airspeed as they descended through 100 ft above ground level (agl) in a stabilized descent. The helicopter then started to yaw left and the flight instructor took the controls. As the spin rate increased, the flight instructor’s efforts to regain control were not successful. He then realized the helicopter was spinning out of control. He lowered the collective and the spin rate slowed as the helicopter contacted the ground. The flight instructor shut down the engine and both pilots exited the helicopter. The helicopter’s fuselage sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during landing defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Flight crew
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 267 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 176 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 17, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,702 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 3, 2022; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,543 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 1,776 hours total
- Operator: Ideal Aviation Illinois LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CPS Cahokia IL
- Destination: CPS Cahokia IL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KCPS, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCPS 191453Z 15006KT 10SM CLR 29/22 A2990
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident Site (FAA Photo)
Photo 2 – Accident Site (FAA Photo)
Photo 3 – Fuselage (Operator Photo)
Photo 4 – Fuselage (FAA Photo)
Photo 5 – Fuselage (Operator Photo)
Photo 6 – Fuselage (Operator Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on August 12, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Student Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Email Correspondence -- Airplane Operator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Helicopter Flying Handbook (Excerpt) -- Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N457PA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2 69 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Helicopteres Guimbal 69 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A 254 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- St. Louis Downtown Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,118 since 1982 · 251 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,071 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22LA326.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.