The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Location: Dinosaur, CO
Accident Number: CEN20LA073
Date & Time: 02/01/2020, 1645 MST
Registration: N7173S
Aircraft: Hiller UH 12E
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled
On February 1, 2020, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Hiller UH-1E helicopter, N7173S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Dinosaur, Colorado. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to Craig Helicopters Inc. and operated by Dynamic Aviation Helicopter Service as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed without a flight plan from Vernal Regional Airport (VEL), Vernal, Utah about 1315.
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to search for lost cattle. While in level flight about 700 ft above ground level, the pilot heard a grinding noise for about three seconds, followed immediately by a loss of power. The pilot conducted an autorotation to a forced landing, during which the tail boom was damaged. The helicopter was retained for a future examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Hiller
Registration: N7173S
Model/Series: UH 12E Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Dynamic Aviation Helicopter Service
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Rotorcraft External Load (133); On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVEL, 5270 ft msl
Observation Time: 1353 MST
Distance from Accident Site: 26 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: -2°C / -6°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 7 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.44 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Vernal, UT (VEL)
Destination: Vernal, UT (VEL)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.243611, -109.014722
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Location: Dinosaur, CO
Accident Number: CEN20LA073
Date & Time: 02/01/2020, 1645 MST
Registration: N7173S
Aircraft: Hiller UH 12E
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled
On February 1, 2020, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Hiller UH-1E helicopter, N7173S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Dinosaur, Colorado. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to Craig Helicopters Inc. and operated by Dynamic Aviation Helicopter Service as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed without a flight plan from Vernal Regional Airport (VEL), Vernal, Utah about 1315.
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to search for lost cattle. While in level flight about 700 ft above ground level, the pilot heard a grinding noise for about three seconds, followed immediately by a loss of power. The pilot conducted an autorotation to a forced landing, during which the tail boom was damaged. The helicopter was retained for a future examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Hiller
Registration: N7173S
Model/Series: UH 12E Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Dynamic Aviation Helicopter Service
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Rotorcraft External Load (133); On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVEL, 5270 ft msl
Observation Time: 1353 MST
Distance from Accident Site: 26 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: -2°C / -6°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 7 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.44 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Vernal, UT (VEL)
Destination: Vernal, UT (VEL)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.243611, -109.014722
Rather difficult to choose a level landing area in this situation. Good job!
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