Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On May 18, 2005, approximately 1930 mountain daylight time, a Bell 47G-5A helicopter, N59403, was substantially damaged when it impacted a truck trailer and terrain during takeoff from a farm 5 -1/2 miles south of Brush, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local, personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of CFR 14 Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot, the sole person on board, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that during takeoff, the right rear skid caught on a nearby truck trailer fender. The helicopter nosed over, bounced hard, then spun around colliding with the truck trailer and the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The pilot reported the helicopter's main rotor was bent, the tail boom was bent downward, the short shaft was broken, the main frame was bent, and the Plexiglas canopy was broken. The pilot stated that it was a "nice day," the winds were "dead calm," and that there was "nothing wrong with the machine." An examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies that could have contributed to the accident. The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the truck trailer during takeoff. A factor contributing to this accident was the truck trailer.