Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 N151AC

Summary

On 8 April 2004 at about 21:00 local time, a Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 registered N151AC, operated by Air Methods, Incorporated, was involved in an accident near Watkins, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 April 2004 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Watkins, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Front Range Airport (FTG)

Coordinates

39.7853, -104.5431

Aircraft

Eurocopter France EC 130 B4

Registration

N151AC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Air Methods, Incorporated

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Watkins → Watkins

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04CA058

Nobody was injured.

the dual student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors contributing to the accident were inadequate supervision by the instructor pilot, the high wind, the gusts, and the crosswinds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instructor pilot reported that he was conducting a commercial checkride. He and the dual student, flying the helicopter, were in a hover approximately 4-5 feet above the ground and oriented on a 190-degree heading. While at that location, the helicopter began to yaw and drift to the left. The instructor pilot said he put in opposite pedal but the helicopter continued to yaw and drift to the left. The helicopter struck the ground, left skid low on a 30 to 45 degree down angle. The instructor said he took control of the helicopter and attempted to maintain a level attitude. The helicopter bounced and then struck nose low and rolled to the right. An examination of the helicopter systems revealed no anomalies. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector on the scene said conditions were very windy. He also said that when considering the wind conditions and the way the helicopter impacted the ground, the winds may have contributed to the accident. The wind conditions reported just before the accident were 190 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 15 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.