Incident Overview
On November 22, 2010, at approximately 1315 mountain standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, registration N408UH, sustained substantial damage after striking a highway reflector pole near Riverdale, Utah. The helicopter was registered to the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, and operated by Air Methods, Englewood, Colorado. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the local flight.
Flight Details
The flight originated from Ogden Regional Medical Center, Ogden, Utah, about three minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to respond to an automobile accident and transport a patient to the hospital.
Pilot Actions
The pilot 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. Upon landing, the pilot noted a forward nose-down slope and decided to reposition the helicopter. During a pedal turn to reposition, the tail rotor struck a highway reflector pole. After the collision, the pilot rolled the throttle off and initiated a hovering autorotation. The helicopter subsequently landed hard on the highway.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical problems with the helicopter.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the tail rotor and tail rotor gearbox. The tail rotor drive shaft was separated at the forward Thomas coupling near the tail boom attachment point and at the tail rotor gearbox attachment point.