Agustawestland Philadelphia CO AW119MKII accident near Canandaigua, New York, September 20, 2024
On September 20, 2024, a 2022 Agustawestland Philadelphia CO AW119MKII (helicopter), registered N281MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Canandaigua, New York (Canadaigua Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s excessive descent rate during the final approach for landing and his delayed recovery attempt, resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2024
- Place
- Canandaigua, New York · Canadaigua Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Agustawestland Philadelphia CO AW119MKII, built 2022 · all AW119MKIIs on the register
- Registration
- N281MC · registry record · serial 15017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot and two medical crewmembers were returning to base at night after completing a patient drop-off at a nearby hospital. The takeoff and cruise portions of the flight were routine. Approaching the landing zone while using night vision goggles, the pilot allowed the helicopter pitch to increase while at a low engine power demand, resulting in the helicopter entering a rapid descent. Recorded flight data showed a late attempt to recover; however, the helicopter struck the ground hard at a descent rate greater than 600 ft/minute, lunged forward, and spun to the right about 220° before coming to a stop. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and the two medical crewmembers had minor injuries; the pilot was unhurt. An examination of the wreckage after the accident did not reveal evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. No crew alerting system (CAS) messages were received before impact, and the engine continued to operate after the helicopter came to a rest.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,793 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,678 as pilot in command; 187 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 3, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 2024; 281 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,283 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney Canada PT6B-37A (turboshaft); 289 hours total
- Operator: Mercy Flight Central INC
The flight
- Departed from: 2NY5 Rochester NY at 11:51 pm
- Runway 13, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from ROC, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KROC 192354Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/16 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP145 T02000156 10267 20200 57004
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N281MC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ERA24LA387.