Accident Overview
On July 19, 2010, at 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206/L3 helicopter, registration N3185A, impacted terrain near a camp site following a search and rescue mission near Wells, Nevada. The helicopter was operated by El Aero Services, Inc., under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, and had been rented to the Elko County Sheriff’s Department. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries; the three fire fighters on board were not injured. No ground injuries occurred. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed.
Mission
The flight was dispatched to assist a rock climber stranded on a cliff precipice near Angel Lake in the Humboldt National Forest. Prior to responding, the pilot coordinated with ground crews regarding location, weather conditions, and the weights of the fire fighters and their gear, totaling 860 pounds. Responding personnel noted the temperature was about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with winds in the area at the time of the accident.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot's written statement, he fueled the helicopter with 500 pounds of fuel and briefed the three firemen on landing possibilities and responsibilities, along with a normal passenger briefing. They departed Elko and flew direct to Angel Lake. The pilot made the approach from the north and flew a slow clockwise circle to locate the stranded rock climber and assess the wind. He found a ridge close to the hiker's location for a toe-in landing, which had been discussed with the firemen. After the firemen exited and signaled clear, the pilot took off—lifting up, rolling right, and descending down the canyon to a nearby parking lot to wait. After shutting down, he assisted with the rescue.
The rescue was uneventful. Two firemen accompanied the rock climber to the helicopter. The pilot loaded the helicopter: one fireman in the front left seat, a second in the right aft seat, and the third was to sit in the aft facing seats with gear. The pilot reported winds traveling up the canyon at 5 knots, so he took off down canyon, circled the lake clockwise, and returned to the original landing spot. Before landing, he observed the third fireman on the opposite side and had the aft seat passenger move seats.
Accident Sequence
The pilot signaled the third fireman, heard the seatbelt click, and pulled pitch for takeoff. He checked the torque meter (95 percent) and rolled the helicopter to the right, the same takeoff as before. He felt the nose tuck further down than on the previous takeoff, applied aft cyclic, and straightened the nose. The descent rate increased rapidly, and the nose did not respond as expected. He increased collective and aft cyclic, improving the attitude, and selected the lowest spot on the ridge to land.
The helicopter landed hard on a ridge crest and bounced back into the air. The pilot reported a ground speed of 5 to 10 knots at about 20 feet. He expected to lose the tail rotor from the first impact and prepared for a fast right rotation, but the rotation was slow, and he retained some control. As the helicopter descended, it was relatively level. The low rotor horn sounded, and the helicopter settled into scrub trees. The pilot stated they were 90 degrees to the ground, and the helicopter rolled left. He saw the front fireman exit, and heard the two aft firemen exit through the right rear door. Realizing the engine was still running, he shut off the twist grip and exited through the windshield.
Aftermath
The pilot reported no mechanical or flight control problems with the helicopter before or during the accident. Witnesses had observed the helicopter lift off from the cliff face, make a right turn, move rapidly down the cliff, disappear below the tree line, and then come back into view before impacting the ground.