# Accident 20101122052099A: Bell 407, Riverdale, UT, November 22, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 22, 2010, 13:13 local time
- Place: Riverdale, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 41.1653° N, 111.9989° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1653&lon=-111.9989&mi=10
- Aircraft: N408UH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N408UH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C47B (registry code 54585, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c47b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C47B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,407 total, 307 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101122052099A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WINDS (15 TO 27 KTS) WERE BLOWING CROSSWISE TO THE ROAD OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST. HE ELECTED TO APPROACH THE LANDING SITE INTO THE WIND AND OVER THE TOP OF SOME TALL TREES AND THEN LET DOWN ONTO THE ROAD.  AS THE HELICOPTER WAS SETTLING DOWN PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD HE WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE SO HE LIFTED IT UP INTO A HOVER.  AS HE WAS REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER THE TAIL ROTOR HIT A METAL POST THAT WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.  THESE POSTS HELP THE SNOWPLOWS STAY ON THE ROAD WHILE PLOWING AND ARE COUPLE OF FEET FROM THE PAVEMENT.  THE PILOT RECOGNIZED A TAIL ROTOR FAILURE SO HE INITIATED APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES AND LANDED IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. HE SAID THAT IT DID NOT SEEM TO HIM THAT IT HIT THE ROAD HARD ENOUGH TO SPREAD THE GEAR AS IT DID.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR THE MEDICAL CREW.

## 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 WPR11LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA056), Nov 22, 2010: Bell 407 (N408UH), Riverdale, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a highway marker sign while maneuvering.

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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