Accident: Mcdonnell Douglas 500N
Feb 20, 2022 · Newport Beach, CA
NTSB numberWPR22FA101Event id20220220104671
- 1
- Fatalities
- 0
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Minor injuries
- 0
- Uninjured
Probable cause
The helicopter’s encounter with unanticipated right yaw during a low-altitude, low-airspeed, tight-radius orbit. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction during the orbit, which resulted in the loss of control, his fatigue due to his early wake time and time since awakening, and the lack of external cues that hindered his ability to perform a recovery.
Source: National Transportation Safety Board. Record last changed Oct 28, 2026, 10:54 UTC.
Aircraft involved
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 500N
- Registration
- N521HB
- Year built
- 1998
- Category
- Helicopter
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rules
- Public aircraft
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying Loss of tail rotor effectiveness
Source: National Transportation Safety Board aviation accident database. Counts only; Voydar holds no names.
Nearest airports
Airports with a Voydar profile closest to the recorded position. Proximity only.
- John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)5 nm (9 km) north-east
- Los Alamitos Army Air Field (KSLI)13 nm (23 km) north-west
- Fullerton Municipal Airport (FUL)16 nm (30 km) north
This page restates the NTSB's public record. Injury figures are counts; Voydar does not hold or publish the names of anyone involved.