Eurocopter EC-130 Helicopter Carrying Four Canadian Adults Crash Landing

[kellyhound]

A privately owned Eurocopter EC-130 helicopter carrying four Canadian adults crashed near the Cabana Blue Lakefront Sports Bar and Grill in Clay Township, St. Clair County, Michigan, on Sunday, June 22, 2025, while attempting to land in a vacant lot along Anchor Bay.

Videos show the red helicopter hovering, then suddenly tipping upward, flipping onto its side, and crashing with a loud thud, kicking up dust and debris. No significant injuries were reported.

A small fuel leak occurred, but the fuel supply and batteries were secured.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board declined to investigate due to the helicopter’s Canadian registration, and it’s unclear if Canadian authorities will investigate.

The cause remains under investigation by Clay Township police, with the wreckage expected to remain until Tuesday or Wednesday.

[akham]

Looks like the dumb shit pilot pulled on the collective. I'm sure they are all very, very, sorry.

[volleyballbat]

Canada? Indian pilot?

[Hogmann]

I'll start by saying I'm not a helicopter pilot but that space doesn't really look big enough for him to land. Sure it technically is but he's much too close to people. The FAA will certainly come down on him for that. In the second video it seems pretty windy you can hear the wind on the microphone and see it on the little boat that goes by it appears the helicopter is landing with its tail boom into the wind roughly which probably causes some instability. Again I'm not a helicopter pilot but I know they can get into a situation where the effect of the rotor wash against the ground can cause the helicopter become unstable

[durt]

Ok, are you sure the person at the controls was a licensed, rotary-wing pilot, with a Eurocopter endorsement?


either way they don't drive a helicopter very good

[durt]

Originally Posted by Hogmann

I'll start by saying I'm not a helicopter pilot but that space doesn't really look big enough for him to land. Sure it technically is but he's much too close to people. The FAA will certainly come down on him for that. In the second video it seems pretty windy you can hear the wind on the microphone and see it on the little boat that goes by it appears the helicopter is landing with its tail boom into the wind roughly which probably causes some instability. Again I'm not a helicopter pilot but I know they can get into a situation where the effect of the rotor wash against the ground can cause the helicopter become unstable

There is plenty of room, if you know what you're doing.

.... Canadians

[Hogmann]

Yeah I agree there's plenty of room to fit a helicopter in there but is it safe to do so with people that close? Probably not and I'm willing to bet that guy gets a violation

[Sa Bal]

thankfully everyone seemed concerned with getting it on video

[durt]

For DR!