Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2 accident near Clarksville, Tennessee, March 29, 2023
On March 29, 2023 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 2023 Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, registered N242JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Clarksville, Tennessee (Outlaw Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action following an abrupt control input by the student pilot, which resulted in abnormal contact with the ground and a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2023 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksville, Tennessee · Outlaw Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2, built 2023 · all CABRI G2s on the register
- Registration
- N242JL · no longer on the register · serial 1319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that the student pilot was taking his second lesson, learning to hover over a grass area at the airport. The flight instructor was operating the collective and anti-torque pedals, while the student pilot was operating the cyclic. The student pilot made an abrupt rearward movement with the cyclic. The flight instructor increased throttle and raised the collected to gain height; however, the right rear skid contacted the ground, resulting in a dynamic rollover. The flight instructor added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter and that in the future, he should initiate hover training at a higher height. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tailboom.
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
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 252 as pilot in command; 143 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 2 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 2023; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,543 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 24 hours total
- Operator: Austin Peay State University
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from CKV
Weather report (METAR): KCKV 291652Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM CLR 13/M02 A3031
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA172.