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N118MB accident description

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Crash location 32.933889°N, 116.996944°W
Nearest city Poway, CA
32.962823°N, 117.035865°W
3.0 miles away
Tail number N118MB
Accident date 25 Feb 2012
Aircraft type Eurocopter As 350 B3
Additional details: None

NTSB Factual Report

The pilot stated that he was approaching a landing zone on a flat pinnacle with a tailwind. The helicopter was in a slow, stable, shallow approach when it encountered an updraft within 50 feet of the landing area. When the helicopter flew out of the updraft, it abruptly descended to the ground. The helicopter contacted the ground in a flat orientation, and the impact buckled the tail boom and sheared the left landing gear skid off.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

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