Airbus Helicopters EC130 accident near Clay Township, Michigan, June 22, 2025
On June 22, 2025 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2024 Airbus Helicopters EC130, registered CGPVB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Clay Township, Michigan (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2025 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clay Township, Michigan · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters EC130 T2, built 2024 · all EC130s on the register
- Registration
- CGPVB · no longer on the register · serial 9683
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned to land near a restaurant for lunch with three passengers. He over flew the landing area and then set up for a “gradual and slow” approach. When the helicopter touched down, he felt the tail drop backwards. The pilot stated that he compensated by adding collective and forward cyclic which inadvertently induced a dynamic rollover. He added that a gusty tailwind prevailed at the time of the landing. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor blades, the main rotor transmission mount, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizers. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures associated with the helicopter before the accident.
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 control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 82 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 2025; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,512 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran Ariel2D (turboshaft); 47 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDET Detroit MI at 4:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Clay Township MI
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from KMTC, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMTC 221656Z 24009KT 200V260 10SM FEW050 34/23 A3001 RMK AO2A SLP161 T03350232 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Helicopter at Accident Site (FAA Photo)
Photograph 2 – Helicopter at Accident Site (FAA Photo)
Photograph 3 – Horizontal Stabilizers (FAA Photo)
Photograph 4 – Fenestron and Tailboom (FAA 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 21, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photos -- CEN25LA213 | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.