# NTSB DEN04CA058: Eurocopter France EC 130 B4, N151AC, Watkins, CO, April 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 8, 2004, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.785278, -104.543052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7853&lon=-104.5431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59020/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA058 ## Probable cause the dual student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors contributing to the accident were inadequate supervision by the instructor pilot, the high wind, the gusts, and the crosswinds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The instructor pilot reported that he was conducting a commercial checkride. He and the dual student, flying the helicopter, were in a hover approximately 4-5 feet above the ground and oriented on a 190-degree heading. While at that location, the helicopter began to yaw and drift to the left. The instructor pilot said he put in opposite pedal but the helicopter continued to yaw and drift to the left. The helicopter struck the ground, left skid low on a 30 to 45 degree down angle. The instructor said he took control of the helicopter and attempted to maintain a level attitude. The helicopter bounced and then struck nose low and rolled to the right. An examination of the helicopter systems revealed no anomalies. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector on the scene said conditions were very windy. He also said that when considering the wind conditions and the way the helicopter impacted the ground, the winds may have contributed to the accident. The wind conditions reported just before the accident were 190 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2004, at 1500 mountain standard time, a Eurocopter France EC 130 B4, N151AC, operated by Air Methods, Incorporated, was substantially damaged when it encountered terrain and subsequently rolled over at the Front Range Airport (FTG), Watkins, Colorado. The airline transport certificated flight instructor and the commercial certificated dual student reported no injuries. The instructional flight was being conducted on a company visual flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The local flight originated at FTG. The instructor pilot reported that he was conducting a commercial checkride. He and the dual student, flying the helicopter, were in a hover approximately 4-5 feet above the ground and oriented on a 190-degree heading. While at that location, the helicopter began to yaw and drift to the left. The instructor pilot said he put in opposite pedal but the helicopter continued to yaw and drift to the left. The helicopter struck the ground, left skid low on a 30 to 45 degree down angle. The instructor said he took control of the helicopter and attempted to maintain a level attitude. The helicopter bounced and then struck nose low and rolled to the right. The helicopter was examined at the accident site. The helicopter was found resting on its right side in a field between the runways. The helicopter's main rotor system, right skid, and right side fuselage were substantially damaged. An examination of the engine, controls, and other helicopter systems revealed no anomalies. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector on the scene said conditions were very windy. He also said that when considering the wind conditions and the way the helicopter impacted the ground, the winds may have contributed to the accident. At 1453, the wind conditions at FTG were 190 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N151AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N151AC), registered now, S/N 3732, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 - Registry model: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (registry code 8680989) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 5291 - Engines: Turbomeca 2B1 turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air Methods, Incorporated, doing business as Air Methods - Registered owner: Key Corporate Capital, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FTG, Watkins, CO - Destination: FTG, Watkins, CO - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: FTG, Front Range Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 16,000 total, 55 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 9,000 total, 5 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040408005959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040408005959A), Apr 8, 2004: Urocop EC130B4, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 8, 2004 at 1300 MST, a Eurocopter EC-130-B4, N151AC, was substantially damaged when it encountered the terrain and rolled over at Front Range… 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.