Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Cody, Wyoming 82414
Tuesady, November 6, 2007 13:15 MST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot said he was landing on top of an 11,900-foot mountain to allow his passengers to "stretch their legs." The approach was "normal" into a headwind of less than 10 knots. Indicated airspeed was 45 knots and main rotor rpm was 70 percent. The low rotor rpm warning horn sounded and he lowered the collective in an attempt to regain rotor rpm. As the helicopter descended from approximately 50 feet, he increased the collective to cushion the landing. The helicopter hit the mountain, spreading and fracturing both forward and aft skids. The engine was later functionally tested. Minor NF (power turbine speed) and NG (compressor turbine, or gas generator, speed) instability in MEC (mechanical mode) and EEC (engine electronic control) modes were noted. According to the engine manufacturer, this would point to the pressure regulator in the fuel control unit (FCU). Engine behavior and power response (slow and rapid acceleration and deceleration inputs) to CLP (collective pitch) inputs were within acceptable limits. The BOV (bleed off valve) closing point was also within limits. The FCU was tested and revealed indications of wear in the pressure regulator, which was reflected in the NF and NG instability. Analysis indicated that this instability would not have been detected by the pilot and would not have prevented the engine from achieving full rated power. According to the nearest weather reporting facility (elevation 5,102 feet msl) AWOS (Automated Weather Observation Station) 1255 observation, the temperature was 8 degrees Celsius (C.), and the altimeter setting was 30.12 inches of Mercury (Hg). The density altitude at the weather facility was computed to be 5,222 feet msl, and the estimated density altitude at the accident site was approximately 13,000 feet msl.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
A loss of engine power while on approach for undetermined reasons. Contributing to this accident was the high density altitude.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 11/6/2007 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 1315 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Standard Time |
| Event City | Cody |
| Event State | WYOMING |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 82414 |
| Event Date Year | 2007 |
| Event Date Month | 11 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 442119N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1093522W |
| 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 | 1255 Mountain Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | COD |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 5102 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | MST |
| 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) | 8 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 1 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 10 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 8 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.12 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Serious |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 4 |
| Injury Total Serious | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 23356 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA-Northwest Mountain Region |
| NTSB Notification Date | Nov 6 2007 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 30 2008 1:28PM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Casper, Wyoming |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | C-GNSR |
| NTSB Number | DEN08LA027 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Agusta |
| Aircraft Model | A119 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 14018 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 5997 |
| 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 | 8 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Continuous Airworthiness |
| Date of Last Inspection | Nov 1 2007 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 1018 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Coordinates Capital Corporation |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 1002-140 Water St., Suite 1002 |
| Aircraft Owner City | St. Johns, Newfoundland |
| Aircraft Owner State | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Country | CA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | A1C 6H6 |
| 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 | No |
| Departure Airport Code | HLN |
| Departure City | Helena |
| Departure State | MT |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1200 |
| Departure Time Zone | MST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | RIV |
| Destination City | Riverton |
| Destination State | WY |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Landing |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 26 2008 12:50PM |
| 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 | -- |