Accident Bell 205A-1 N386HQ, Sunday 23 August 2020

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Date:	Sunday 23 August 2020
Time:	20:30 LT
Type:	Bell 205A-1
Owner/operator:	HeliQwest International
Registration:	N386HQ
MSN:	30086
Year of manufacture:	1970
Total airframe hrs:	22309 hours
Engine model:	Honeywell T53 -A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	La Verne-Brackett Field, CA (POC/KPOC) - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Fire fighting
Departure airport:	La Verne-Brackett Field, CA (POC/KPOC)
Destination airport:	La Verne-Brackett Field, CA (POC/KPOC)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot reported that he was conducting cargo and crew shuttle operations in support of firefighting operations. During the approach to a remote landing site that throughout the day had been continuously provided with dust abatement, there was significant dust and small sage type vegetation debris in the air that was kicked up from the helicopter's rotor wash. The pilot subsequently performed a go-around. During a post-flight inspection, substantial damage to the tail rotor was discovered.

Probable Cause: The pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around while landing in an unimproved area which resulted in a collision with debris.

Accident investigation: