Bell 206 L-1 N2758C

Summary

On 23 July 2004 at about 20:30 local time, a Bell 206 L-1 registered N2758C was involved in an accident near Escalante, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 2004 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Escalante, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Escalante Municipal Airport (17U)

Coordinates

37.7450, -111.5703

Aircraft

Bell 206 L-1

Registration

N2758C

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Escalante → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04CA111

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the high winds, the gusts, and the refueling truck.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had landed the helicopter next to the refueling truck to conduct a "hot refueling." At the end of the refueling, the pilot left the helicopter to assist the ground refueler with the hose. The pilot said he heard an abnormal noise. The helicopter began to vibrate. The pilot went to neutralize the flight controls. The helicopter bounced and knocked the pilot down as he grabbed the controls. The main rotor dipped down striking the refueling truck and causing damage to the helicopter main rotor blades, the tail boom, and the truck cab. The pilot got up and shut the helicopter down. The pilot reported that a gust of wind came up causing the helicopter rotor blade to dip down and strike the truck. An examination of the helicopter showed no anomalies. Approximately 23 minutes after the accident, the Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) for Bryce Canyon, Utah (BCE), 075 degrees at 28 nautical miles from the accident scene, reported winds as 210 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 27 knots. Approximately 34 minutes prior to the accident, BCE METAR reported a peak wind of 180 degrees at 30 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.