# NTSB WPR14CA373: Bell 407, N142MA, Moab, UT, September 11, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2014, 11:09 local (17:09 UTC) - Place: Moab, UT - Coordinates: 38.45972, -109.635276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4597&lon=-109.6353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90066 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA373 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90066/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90066 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA373 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure adequate clearance from terrain while landing on sloped terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 407, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter had been dispatched to pickup and transport two ground crew members to a new location. The pilot positioned the helicopter with the front skids into up sloping terrain when the main rotor blades impacted a large boulder. The helicopter pitched back, rolled onto its right side, and slid down the hill before it came to a rest. During the accident sequence, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The helicopter had been dispatched to pickup and transport two ground crew members to a new location. The pilot positioned the helicopter with the front skids into up sloping terrain when the main rotor blades impacted a large boulder. The helicopter pitched back, rolled onto its right side, and slid down the hill before it came to a rest. During the accident sequence, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N142MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N142MA), registered now, S/N 53123, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 407 - Registry model: [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (registry code 1182206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53123 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 5346 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250 SER turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Minuteman Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Minuteman Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2014, 39 hours before - Departed: Moab, UT - Destination: Moab, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 7, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,656 total, 165 in this make and model, 3,656 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: CNY, 18 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 20140911016599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140911016599A), Sep 11, 2014: Bell 407, Moab, UT, Substantial damage. Upon landing on a rocky hillside pilot inadvertently pitched down (possibly caused by catching toe of skid on a rock) and struck a large boulder with the main… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90066. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419350&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.