- Date
- May 30, 2020, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Elko, NV
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N401HPBell 206
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20200530010849A
- Case key
- 101366
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control in gusting wind that resulted in a loss in altitude and subsequent collision with a fence.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he departed in the helicopter, directly into the wind, and began a climb and turn to the downwind. During the turn, the helicopter encountered a wind gust and lost altitude as if it were settling. The pilot tried to maneuver the helicopter back to the airport property to land, however, the landing skids caught a fence. The helicopter nosed over and came to rest on its left side substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. A weather station at the airport reported the wind from 180° at 25 kts with gusts to 36 kts.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he departed in the helicopter, directly into the wind, and began a climb and turn to the downwind. During the turn, the helicopter encountered a wind gust and lost altitude as if it were settling. The pilot tried to maneuver the helicopter back to the airport property to land, however, the landing skids caught a fence. The helicopter nosed over and came to rest on its left side substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. A weather station at the airport reported the wind from 180° at 25 kts with gusts to 36 kts.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N401HP
- Reported as
- Bell 206 (B)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3314
- Built
- 1981
- Airframe hours
- 13,039
- Engine
- Allison M250-C20, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 18, 2020
- Departed
- MLF · Milford, UT
- Destination
- EKO · Elko, NV
- Airport
- EKO · Elko Rgnl
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 12, 2020
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,441 total · 4.9 in this make and model · 1,018 as pilot in command · 14.3 in the last 90 days · 4.9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 21 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 28 °F
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.