Jefferson County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Broomfield, Colorado 80020
Wednesday, December 17, 2003 5:53 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter departed into the wind with the student at the controls. During the aerial taxi, the helicopter encountered turbulence. The flight instructor took control, and at approximately 500 feet to 600 feet above the ground, he initiated a turn to the south. A gust of wind weathervaned the helicopter around onto an easterly heading. While turning back towards the south, the helicopter settled to the ground, hitting the tail first, rolling over, and coming to rest on the left side, destroying the helicopter. According to the METAR (aviation routine weather report), the winds were from 260 degrees at 30 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the wind gust.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/17/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 553
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Broomfield
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80020
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395405N
Event Location Longitude 1050700W
Event Location Airport Jefferson County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BJC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5670
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 555 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5670
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 18000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) 6118
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15120
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Dec 17 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N341MK
NTSB Number DEN04LA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7640102
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 19 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 290
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kelly Joseph
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Scottsdale
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85262
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BJC
Departure City Broomfield
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 545
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDL
Destination City SCOTTSDALE
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - aerial
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 29 2004 12:58PM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --