Westland Helicopters Wasp HAS MK1 accident near Ramona, California, May 25, 2007
On May 25, 2007 at about 2:50 am local time, a Westland Helicopters Wasp HAS MK1, registered N612VH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ramona, California. It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
Failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from a tree while performing a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the failure of a snubber dampener that induced a severe vibration in the rotor system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2007 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Westland Helicopters Wasp HAS MK1
- Registration
- N612VH · registry record · serial F8-7411
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the flight a severe vibration began throughout the helicopter. The pilot was attempting to make a precautionary landing when the tail rotor stuck a tree. Maintenance personnel for the operator indicated that the vibration was due to a failure of one of the snubber dampeners on a main rotor blade.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,021 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 916 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,911 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 1, 2006; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce Nimbus 103 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L39 Ramona CA at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from CRQ, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 LAX07LA173.