N142MA – BELL 407 – 2014-09-11 NTSB Accident Report

On September 11, 2014, a Bell 407 (N142MA) was involved in an accident near Moab, UT. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate clearance from terrain while landing on sloped terrain.

The helicopter had been dispatched to pickup and transport two ground crew members to a new location. The pilot positioned the helicopter with the front skids into up sloping terrain when the main rotor blades impacted a large boulder. The helicopter pitched back, rolled onto its right side, and slid down the hill before it came to a rest. During the accident sequence, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

This accident is documented in NTSB report WPR14CA373. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N142MA.