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Printed on : 12/6/2010 11:12:15 PM

National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: WPR11LA056 Most Critical Injury: None

PRELIMINARY REPORT Occurrence Date: 11/22/2010 Investigated By: NTSB

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Location/Time
Nearest City/Place State Zip Code Local Time Time Zone

Riverdale UT 84405 1315 MST

Aircraft Information
Registration Number Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Number

N408UH BELL 407

Type of Aircraft: Helicopter Amateur Built Aircraft? No

Fatal Serious Minor None 3
Injury Summary:

Revenue Sightseeing Flight: No Air Medical Transport Flight: Medical Emergency

Narrative
Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident:

On November 22, 2010, about 1315 mountain standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N408UH, sustained
substantial damage when it struck a highway marker pole near Riverdale, Utah. The helicopter was
registered to the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, and operated by Air Methods under Title
14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not
injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the
local flight. The flight originated from the Ogden Regional Medical Center, Ogden, Utah, about 3
minutes prior to the accident.

The pilot reported that the intent of the flight was to respond to an automobile accident for
medical transport. Upon arriving on scene, he performed an aerial observation of the intended
landing area on Interstate 84, noting the wind from 230 to 240 degrees at 15 to 20 knots and all
pertinent obstacles. The pilot initiated a high-angle approach perpendicular to the highway and
noted a forward nose down slope upon landing. He stated that due to the nose down slope, he
decided to reposition the helicopter. As the pilot performed a pedal turn to reposition the
helicopter, the tail rotor struck a highway reflector pole. The pilot said that upon losing tail
rotor control, he rolled the throttle off and initiated a hovering autorotation. Subsequently, the
helicopter landed hard on the highway.

Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that
the tail rotor and tail rotor gearbox were damaged. The tail rotor drive shaft was separated at
the forward Thomas coupling near the tail boom attach point and at the tail rotor gearbox attach
point.
Updated on Dec 3 2010 7:32PM

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: WPR11LA056

PRELIMINARY REPORT Occurrence Date: 11/22/2010

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Other Aircraft Involved

Registration Number Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Number

Accident Information
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Accident Occurred During:

Crew Name Certificate No. Injury

Pilot On File On File None

5
6

Operator Information
Name Operator Designator Code Doing Business As
Air Methods

Street Address City State Zip Code

7211 S. Peoria St. Englewood CO 80112
-Type of Certificate(s) Held:
On-demand Air Taxi
Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s):

Operating Certificate: Operator Certificate:

Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation

Type of Flight Operations Conducted: Business

Flight Plan/Itinerary
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Last Departure Point State Airport Identifier

Ogden UT

Destination State Airport Identifier

Same as Accident/Incident Location

Weather Information

Investigator's Source: Automated Report Facility ID: OGD Observation Time (Local): 1253

Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered 4300 Ft. AGL

Lowest Ceiling: Broken 5000 Ft. AGL Visibility: 10 SM Altimeter: 29.85 "Hg

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NTSB ID: WPR11LA056

National Transportation Safety Board

PRELIMINARY REPORT Occurrence Date: 11/22/2010

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Weather Information (Continued from page 2)

Temperature: 2 °C Dew Point: -6 ° C Wind Direction: 240

Wind Speed: 14 Kts. Gusts: 27 Kts. Weather Conditions at Accident Site:

Administration Data
Notification From Date
FAA Operations Center

FAA District Office/Coordinator Investigator-In-Charge (IIC)

Federal Aviation Administration
Joshua Cawthra
Brent Robinson

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