Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Elko Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Wells, Nevada 89835
Monday, July 19, 2010 16:30 PDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
At the conclusion of a mountain rescue flight, the pilot was returning to the rescue site on a ridge to pick up the remaining rescuer. After the rescuer boarded and was secure, the pilot lifted off the ridge and made a right turn, traveling down the canyon slope in a manner similar to the previous flight that day. However, during this departure, the nose of the helicopter had a greater downward pitch angle than on the previous takeoff. The pilot introduced aft cyclic and brought the nose up, but the rate of descent increased rapidly as the pilot continued to increase collective and aft cyclic. The helicopter subsequently collided with the top of a ridge crest and bounced back into the air. The pilot was able to maintain control as the helicopter settled to the ground. Just before touchdown, the pilot heard the low rotor horn sound, and he increased the remaining collective as the helicopter settled into the trees. The helicopter subsequently rolled over onto its left side. After departing the helicopter, the pilot realized that the engine was still running, and he returned to shut it down. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering after departure from mountainous terrain.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 7/19/2010 |
| Event Day of the Week | Monday |
| Time of Event | 1630 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Event City | Wells |
| Event State | NEVADA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 89835 |
| Event Date Year | 2010 |
| Event Date Month | 7 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 410135N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1150504W |
| Event Location Airport | Elko Regional Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | EKO |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 38 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 5140 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1559 Pacific Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 250 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | EKO |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 5140 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 38 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PDT |
| 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) | 34 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -9 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 200 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 9 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.03 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Injury Total Serious | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 29285 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA AWP Operations Center |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 18 2011 4:25PM |
| User who most recently changed record | coos |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N3185A |
| NTSB Number | WPR10LA359 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Company VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BELL |
| Aircraft Model | 206 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | L3 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 51093 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 4150 |
| 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 | 7 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Mar 22 2010 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 1346 |
| Airframe Hours | 10065 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | El Aero Services Inc |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | P.O. Box 159 |
| Aircraft Owner City | Elko |
| Aircraft Owner State | NV |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 89803 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | El Aero Services Inc |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | P.O. Box 159 |
| Operator City | Elko |
| Operator State | NV |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 89803 |
| Operator Code | AQHA |
| Owner has at least one certificate | Yes - certificate holder |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | Non-scheduled |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | Domestic |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | Passenger Only |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | -- |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | EKO |
| Departure City | Elko |
| Departure State | NV |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1330 |
| Departure Time Zone | PDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | EKO |
| Destination City | Elko |
| Destination State | NV |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 18 2011 4:25PM |
| User who most recently changed record | coos |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |