# Accident 20040723017109A: Bell 206L1, Escalante, UT, July 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2004, 15:10 local time
- Place: Escalante, UT
- Airport: Escalante Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Idling Rotors
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: XW9A
- Location: 37.7450° N, 111.5703° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7450&lon=-111.5703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2758C (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04CA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040723017109A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT OF THE HELICOPTER LANDED NEXT TO A REFUELING TRUCK IN ORDER TO CONDUCT A "HOT FUELING" OPERATION. AT THE END OF THE REFUELING, THE PILOT LEFT THE HELICOPTER TO ASSIST THE GROUND REFUELER WITH THE FUELING HOSE. WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED REFUELING THE PILOT STARTED TO WALK BACK TOWARDS THE HELICOPTER. WHILE WALKING BACK TO THE HELICOPTER THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES "TIPPED" DOWN TOWARDS THE FUELING TRUCK AND STRUCK THE TOP OF THE CAB. MEANWHILE THE PILOT MOVED QUICKER TO THE HELICOPTER AND HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT UNDER CONTROL AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. AFTER SEEING THAT THE PILOT WAS CONSCIOUS, THE GROUND REFUELER RAN TO THE HIGHWAY AND WAVED FOR HELP.

## 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 DEN04CA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA111), Jul 23, 2004: Bell 206 L-1 (N2758C), Escalante, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the high winds, the gusts, and the refueling truck.

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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