Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morgan, Utah 84050
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 15:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that he departed from his home, which is at approximately 5,000 feet elevation. He said that he came to a hover at approximately 10 feet above a ridge line to look at a herd of elk. He said he had an estimated 10 knot tail-wind, which reduced the helicopter's tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot said that the helicopter settled into some brush on the side of the ridge, and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter came to rest at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The maximum hover out of ground effect altitude, published by RotorWay International, for the Exec 162F, is 5,000 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to attempt to hover out of ground effect above the kit manufacturers published recommendations. A factor was mountainous terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/2006
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Morgan
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84050
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 410048N
Event Location Longitude 1113724W
Event Location Airport --
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 1555 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID HIF
Elevation of weather observation facility 4789
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.25
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) 19927
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 22 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Salt Lake City, UT

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N520DK
NTSB Number SEA06CA069
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Kearsley
Aircraft Model Exec 162F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6776
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 45
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Douglas I. Kearsley
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2175 W. Deep Creek Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Morgan
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84050
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City Morgan
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1510
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Hover - out of ground effect
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 7 2006 5:43PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
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 --