# Accident 20090522011129A: Gaucha SAFARI, Rock Springs, AZ, May 22, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 2009, 13:34 local time
- Place: Rock Springs, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0425° N, 112.1494° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0425&lon=-112.1494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N147MD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N147MD-2017-04-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gauchat Michael SAFARI (registry code 05621KH, https://openairdocs.org/model/gauchat-michael-safari) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Superior O-360 series (registry code 59250, https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GAUCHA SAFARI
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 270 total, 180 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA253) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090522011129A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST DEPARTED FROM A PARKING LOT .3 MILES NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.  THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING SOUTH PARALLEL TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 17, WHEN THE ROTOR SYSTEM DEPARTED THE HELICOPTER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND THE POST CRASH FIRE.  THE AIRMAN AND HIS PASSENGER HAD FLOWN FROM KDVT (PHOENIX) TO A ROCK SPRINGS CAFE FOR LUNCH.  AFTER EATING THEY PLANNED TO RETURN TO PHOENIX (KDVT) WHERE THE AIRMAN SHARED A HANGAR.  WHEN THIS INSPECTOR ARRIVED ON SCENE, IT WAS DRIZZLING RAIN AND THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE COVERED BY CLOUDS.  THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE EXXAMINED BY AN AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR AND FOUND IN GOOD ORDER.  MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE FOUND 200-300 FEET FROM THE FUSELAGE WRECKAGE, UNDER POWER LINES, 100' FROM THE SCENE.  ONE MAIN ROTOR CONTROL TUBE WAS FOUND.

## 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 WPR09LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA253), May 22, 2009: Gauchat Safari (N147MD), Rock Springs, AZ, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The separation of the main rotor head during cruise flight as a result of cyclic fatigue of the main rotor head spindle. The fatigue crack was due to an inadequate manufacturing process.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.