# Accident 20020518009749A: Bell 206L1, Salem, UT, May 18, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2002, 14:49 local time
- Place: Salem, UT
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JAPA
- Location: 40.0194° N, 111.6142° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0194&lon=-111.6142&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3894Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3894Q-2011-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 (registry code 1182107, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C28 series (registry code 03022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c28-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020518009749A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON MAY 18, 2002, AT 1449 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206L-1, N3894Q, OPERATED BY CLASSIC HELICOPTERS, INC., OF WOODS CROSS, UTAH, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING TAKEOFF FROM A MOUNTAIN TOP 3 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SALEM, UTAH. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE ON-DEMAND, NON-SCHEDULED DOMESTIC PASSENGER FLIGHT BEING OPERATED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 135. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN BOUNTIFUL, UTAH, AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION INDICATES THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN CHARTERED BY AT&T TO TRANSPORT PERSONNEL TO REMOTE REPEATER SITES. IT WAS LIFTING OFF FROM ONE SUCH SITE WHEN IT BEGAN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL BUT THE HELICOPTER STRUCK TREES. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, THE PILOT TOLD HIM HE HAD LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. (-23) ON TAKEOFF FROM A LANDING PAD AT A REMOTE MOUNTAIN TOP SITE, THE PILOT LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND DESCENDED INTO TREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN02LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA044), May 18, 2002: Bell 206L-1 (N3894Q), Salem, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during takeoff. A contributing factor was the wind gusts.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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