# NTSB WPR23LA009: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, N874BB, Moab, UT, October 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 8, 2022, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Moab, UT · mountainous terrain - Coordinates: 38.568455, -109.54944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5685&lon=-109.5494&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 106108 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106108/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106108 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of helicopter control during landing, that resulted in a dynamic roll over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1182165), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, he was initiating a landing to a ledge. As the landing skids contacted the ground, the pilot felt the helicopter settle tail first. Startled by this, he abruptly raised the collective, unaware that he was holding forward cyclic input. As power was applied, the rear skids lifted off the ground first, creating a nose low attitude. The helicopter subsequently rolled over onto its right side substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N874BB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N874BB), registered now, S/N 65233, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 505 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-505) (registry code 1182165) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Safran ARRIUS-2R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/safran-arrius-2r) (registry code 59992, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 65233 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 318.6 - Engines: Saffran Arrius 2R 451 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 2022, 10 hours before - Departed: 7CO1, Gateway, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 12, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,326 total, 141 in this make and model, 937 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,502 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.33 inHg - Observed at: KCNY, 15 nm away - METAR: METAR KCNY 081553Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM CLR 18/04 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP233 T01830039= ## 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 20221008016559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221008016559A), Oct 8, 2022: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505, Moab, UT, Substantial damage. On October 8, 2022, the pilot and one passenger went on a recreational flight. Their intent was to land in a remote place where four other helicopters had… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106108. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14688039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14906641&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=passenger%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14688049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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.