# Accident 20201216020379A: Mauro C Dal Canto AR-1, Heber, UT, December 16, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 16, 2020, 14:17 local time
- Place: Heber, UT
- Airport: Heber Valley
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4829° N, 111.4293° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4829&lon=-111.4293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N261MD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N261MD-2023-06-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mauro C Dal Canto AR-1 (registry code 05639CH, https://openairdocs.org/model/mauro-c-dal-canto-ar-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 915 IS series (registry code 55620, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-915-is-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAURO C DAL CANTO AR-1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,900 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201216020379A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO VIDEO TAKEN OF THE ACCIDENT, 11 SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT NOSED UP, MADE A LEFT OSCILLATION FOLLOWED BY A HARD RIGHT TURN AND BANK. A WITNESS IN THE VIDEO REPORTED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AT THIS POINT.  IN THE RIGHT TURN, THE ROTOR HEAD WOULD HAVE LOST LIFT AND A PUFF OF SMOKE CAN BE SEEN WHERE A ROTOR BLADE CONTACTS THE TAIL AND ENGINE PROPELLER.  AT 26 SECONDS FROM TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN A NOSE DOWN VERTICAL POSITION CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT.

## 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 WPR21LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA070), Dec 16, 2020: SilverLight AR-1 (N261MD), Heber City, UT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to follow the procedures for takeoff in the Pilot Operating Handbook, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with the terrain. Contributing to the accident was the…

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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