# NTSB WPR12LA065: Bell 407, N8067Z, Rock Springs, WY, December 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2011, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.657775, -109.269996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6578&lon=-109.2700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 5 minor - Status: Completed, report February 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82512/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82512 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA065 ## Probable cause The unauthorized operation of the helicopter by a non-certificated and unqualified individual who failed to maintain helicopter control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The individual flying the helicopter neither held a pilot certificate nor had any documented experience flying helicopters. He was employed by the operator as a company mechanic. He took the helicopter without permission and was giving 4 acquaintances a ride in the area. While maneuvering at low altitude near one of the passenger’s homes, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2011, about 1620 mountain standard time, a Bell 407, N8067Z, was maneuvering at a low altitude and airspeed near the residence of some of the passengers when it descended into an open field about 12 miles west-northwest of the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport, Rock Springs, Wyoming. The helicopter impacted the ground hard and was substantially damaged. The helicopter’s landing gear skids and lower cabin structure were deformed, and the tail boom was severed. Guardian Flight, South Jordan, Utah, owned and operated the helicopter. The pilot and four passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight began from Rock Springs about 1600. The passengers reported that the pilot, who was an employee of Guardian Flight, immediately departed the scene. The pilot has not reported the accident to the National Transportation Safety Board. Guardian Flight management personnel reported that the pilot was not authorized to fly the helicopter, and he was employed as their Rock Springs helicopter mechanic. Law enforcement authorities reported they apprehended the pilot in another state. Federal Aviation Administration personnel reported that the pilot was issued a student pilot certificate in 1988, and they have no record of him holding any additional pilot certificate. He does hold a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings and inspection authorization. An acquaintance of the accident pilot reported that he observed the pilot flying N8067Z on several previous occasions for personal reasons. Passengers were carried during these “joy rides.” ## Aircraft - Registration: N8067Z (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 407 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53573 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C47B 600 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Guardian Flight - Registered owner: Guardian Flight - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RKS, Rock Springs, UT - Destination: RKS, Rock Springs, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: RKS, 10 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 20111213028699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111213028699A), Dec 13, 2011: Bell 407, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. On December 13, 2011, at 16:20 MST, N8067Z, a Bell/textron model bht 407, helicopter was substantially damaged during low level manuevering when the aircraft… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82512. 9.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Witness - Calnin (item 2, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Witness%20-%20Calnin-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Reynolds (item 3, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Reynolds-Master.PDF - Bell Helicopter Report (4 Embedded Images) (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 619 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Bell%20Helicopter%20Report%20(4%20Embedded%20Images)-Master.PDF - Rolls-Royce Report (10 Embedded Images) (item 5, .PDF, 10 photos, 684 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rolls-Royce%20Report%20(10%20Embedded%20Images)-Master.PDF - Helicopter Logbook Pages, Extract (item 6, .PDF, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Logbook%20Pages,%20Extract-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 7, .PDF, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Retention / Release of Wreckage Form (item 8, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Retention%20%2F%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form-Redacted.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.