# NTSB DEN02LA044: Bell 206L-1, N3894Q, Salem, UT, May 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2002, 14:49 local (20:49 UTC) - Place: Salem, UT - Coordinates: 40.019443, -111.614166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0194&lon=-111.6142&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54737 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54737/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54737 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA044 ## Probable cause a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during takeoff. A contributing factor was the wind gusts. ## Analysis The helicopter was lifting off from a steel helipad located at the 8,800' msl level when it began turning to the right. The pilot applied left pedal, but the helicopter struck trees and impacted terrain 300 feet from the helipad. The pilot told an FAA inspector he had lost "tail rotor effectiveness." The pilot said there were gusty winds in the area at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2002, at 1449 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206L-1, N3894Q, operated by Classic Helicopters, Inc., of Woods Cross, Utah, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during takeoff from a mountain top, 3 miles east-southeast of Salem, Utah. The commercial pilot was seriously injured, and two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the on-demand, non-scheduled domestic passenger flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 135. The flight originated in Bountiful, Utah, approximately 1400 MDT. The helicopter had been chartered by American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) to transport personnel to remote repeater antenna sites. It was lifting off from one such site, a steel helipad located on Salem Peak at the 8,800' msl level, when it began turning to the right. The pilot applied left pedal, but the helicopter struck trees and impacted terrain 300 feet from the helipad. The pilot told an FAA inspector he had lost "tail rotor effectiveness." Damage consisted of a severed tail boom, a destroyed main rotor, a broken nose section and Plexiglas, a damaged skid tube, and a punctured fuselage panel. The pilot said there were gusty winds in the area at the time of the accident. This report was modified on May 20, 2005. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - loss of tail rotor effectiveness - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3894Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3894Q-2011-02-28), registration cancelled 2011-02-28, S/N 45589 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C28 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c28-series) (registry code 03022, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45589 - Airframe hours: 5236 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C28B 500 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Classic Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, May 9, 2002, 14 hours before - Departed: BTF, Bountiful, UT - Destination: NONE, Salem, UT - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 19, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,590 total, 1,413 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020518009749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020518009749A), May 18, 2002: Bell 206L1, Salem, UT, No damage. (.19) On may 18, 2002, at 1449 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206L-1, N3894Q, operated by classic helicopters, inc., of woods cross, Utah, was destroyed when… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54737. 371 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40162599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40162598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.