Bell 206 N401HP

Summary

On 30 May 2020 at about 21:15 local time, a Bell 206 registered N401HP was involved in an accident near Elko, Nevada, United States. One person was 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

30 May 2020 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Elko, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Elko Rgnl (EKO)

Coordinates

40.8283, -115.7853

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N401HP

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milford → Elko

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20CA162

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control in gusting wind that resulted in a loss in altitude and subsequent collision with a fence.

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

Read the full NTSB 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.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.