Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wells, Nevada 89853
Saturday, April 20, 2013 10:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was flying the helicopter to specific locations within hilly sage and brush covered terrain in order for his passenger to set mining claim stakes at various intervals. Movement between the stake locations was typically conducted at a low altitude. The pilot stated that as he flew the helicopter over the crest of a hill, he felt the helicopter shudder and vibrate, and he initiated an autorotation to an open field. After what he described as an uneventful landing, the pilot noticed that the tailrotor and its drive shaft were damaged. The pilot further reported that he noticed a bush with several broken branches that was located along the helicopter’s flight path, and he believed that the tailrotor struck that bush while he was maneuvering. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while maneuvering at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1040
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Wells
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89853
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412157N
Event Location Longitude 1145954W
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1056 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID EKO
Elevation of weather observation facility 5140
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KEKO 201756Z AUTO 29006KT 10SM BKN044 09/M01
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) 31445
NTSB Notification Source FAA 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 Jun 12 2013 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4237M
NTSB Number WPR13CA204
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
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 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4055
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 20 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 7751
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name REEDER FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TWIN FALLS
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83301-0367
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name REEDER FLYING SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TWIN FALLS
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83301-0367
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Air Drop
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Wells
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Wells
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 12 2013 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --