# Accident 20100719040879A: Bell 206L-3, Wells, NV, July 19, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2010, 15:29 local time
- Place: Wells, NV
- Airport: Harriet Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Location: 41.0264° N, 115.0844° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0264&lon=-115.0844&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3185A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3185A-2010-09-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA359) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100719040879A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ACCOMPLISHED A TOE IN APPROACH AND LANDING TO A ROCK LEDGE APPROXIMATELY 550 ABOVE THE TERRAIN TO ALLOW A RESCUE PERSON WITH EQUIPMENT TO BOARD THE HELICOPTER.AFTER LIFTOFF FROM THE ROCK LEDGE, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND RAPIDLY LOST ALTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE DESCENT SUBSEQUENTLY STRIKING THE GROUND AND SHEARING THE GEAR AND VERTICAL FIN FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER, WITH LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AND GEAR, REMAINED AIRBORNE AND WAS THEN LANDED AND ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.

## 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 WPR10LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA359), Jul 19, 2010: Bell 206 (N3185A), Wells, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering after departure from mountainous terrain.

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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