Gauchat SAFARI accident near Rock Springs, AZ
On May 22, 2009, a Gauchat SAFARI (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Rock Springs, AZ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 22, 2009
- Place
- Rock Springs, AZ
- Aircraft
- Gauchat SAFARI · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.042°N, 112.149°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090522X74730
Official records · WPR09LA253
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 22, 2009, about 1330 mountain standard time (MST), an experimental homebuilt helicopter, Gauchat Safari, N147MD, impacted terrain near Rock Springs, Arizona, following the separation of both of the main rotor blades. The builder/pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured; impact forces and the post crash fire substantially damaged the helicopter. The local personal flight departed Rock Springs about 1325, with a planned destination of Phoenix, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses reported that the helicopter had just departed from a parking lot .3 nautical miles north of the accident site. They observed the helicopter flying southbound parallel to highway 17, when one of the main rotor blades departed the helicopter. The helicopter then fell to the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION No personal flight records were located for the pilot. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) obtained the aeronautical experience listed in this report from a review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airmen medical records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pilot reported on his medical application dated May 5, 2008, that he had a total time of 270 hours, with 50 hours logged in the last 6 months. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The experimental homebuilt helicopter, a Gauchat Safari, serial number 2129, was issued
Probable cause
The separation of the main rotor head during cruise flight as a result of cyclic fatigue of the main rotor head spindle. The fatigue crack was due to an inadequate manufacturing process.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
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Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
