Aerospatiale AS350BA accident near Kemmerer, Wyoming, September 6, 2001
On September 6, 2001, a Aerospatiale AS350BA (helicopter), registered N57843, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kemmerer, Wyoming (Kemmerer Municipal airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of tail rotor effectiveness while air taxiing. Contributing factors were the high winds and gusts, and the pilot's limited experience in aircraft make/model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2001
- Place
- Kemmerer, Wyoming · Kemmerer Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350BA · all AS350BAs on the register
- Registration
- N57843 · no longer on the register · serial 1430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was aerial taxiing the helicopter to a parking area at 10 knots and into a slight quartering headwind. There was some thunderstorm activity west of the airport, and the nearest recorded winds were from 260 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 36 knots. As he turned towards the tie down area, there was a strong gust of wind from the left. The helicopter yawed to the left and full right pedal had no effect on arresting the spin. The helicopter struck the ground and rolled over. The pilot had 4,000 total flight hours in helicopters, but had recently transitioned to this make and model helicopter and had 8 hours in type.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Crew Concepts, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PIH Pocatello ID
- Destination: EMM Kemmerer WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 25 knots, gusting 36
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from EVW, 52 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.