Na Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901
Tuesady, September 13, 2005 11:50 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he was maneuvering at approximately 25 feet agl. The pilot stated that he heard a grinding noise and the "helicopter yawed to the right a couple of times." He stated that the engine began to overspeed and he initiated an autorotation. The pilot stated that the helicopter impacted the ground hard, resulting in substantial damage. An examination, revealed that all six shearbolts had failed. Examination of the fracture faces of the six shear bolts revealed signatures consistent with a shearing action. The examination of the helicopter airframe, engine, transmission, and remaining systems revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the attempted autorotation after he experienced an engine overspeed that occurred for reasons undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/13/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Rock Springs
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82901
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413570N
Event Location Longitude 1090390W
Event Location Airport NA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID RKS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6760
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20148
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Ctr
NTSB Notification Date Sep 13 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2006 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Casper FAA Flight Standards Field Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24SD
NTSB Number DEN05LA137
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 47G-3B-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3671
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1224
Airframe Hours 8856
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Helicopter Roundup Service LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 289
Aircraft Owner City Nephi
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84648
Operator is an individual? No
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RKS
Departure City Rock Springs
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2006 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
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 --