Agusta A109K2 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, June 8, 2003
On June 8, 2003 at about 2:12 am local time, a Agusta A109K2 (helicopter), registered N123RX, was destroyed in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fatigue of the tail rotor trunnion resulting in complete trunnion failure and subsequent tail rotor separation from the helicopter. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude, low airspeed, excessive tail rotor loading, and the worn tail-rotor blade grip bushings.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2003 · about 2:12 am local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Agusta A109K2 · all A109K2s on the register
- Registration
- N123RX · no longer on the register · serial 10018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter flight crew had just finished rescuing a lost hiker and was preparing to return to their home base. The pilot informed the flight nurse that dispatch wanted them to proceed home because the helicopter was due its 25-hour inspection. The pilot mentioned that he first needed to return to the location where they picked up the hiker so he could get an altitude reading. Before taking off, search and rescue personnel warned the pilot of paragliders in the area. The flight nurse said the pilot acknowledged them, and then took off and proceeded southbound. The flight nurse said they were climbing out when she heard a loud noise. She said it seemed to come from beneath the helicopter. She said she heard the pilot say, "Oh no" and then the helicopter began spinning clockwise out of control. The flight nurse said she was being tossed around, but was trying to get into a position for the crash. Then the helicopter impacted the ground. The flight nurse said she got out through the front of the helicopter. She said she checked the paramedic and the pilot, and then went for the radio to call for help. She said that the engines were still running and she smelled fuel. At that point she noticed the tail rotor was missing. Several witnesses on the ground heard and saw the helicopter. The witnesses recalled the helicopter took off and made a right turn to proceed south. Some of the witnesses said they heard a loud bang. Most of the witnesses described the helicopter as doing a 360-degree counter clockwise turn, then the nose of the helicopter pitched up, the tail rotor came off, and the helicopter continued to spin and descend until it impacted the hillside. An examination of the helicopter's broken tail rotor trunnion showed four separate fatigue areas originating from the inner splines. The exam also showed that the fatigue occurred due to stresses that exceeded the design spectrum. Excessive heating was noted due to friction between the trunnion and blade grip bushings. The tail rotor trunnion had a published service life of 2,700 hours. At the accident, the trunnion had 698.0 total hours.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,382 hours in all; 959 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 6,382 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,833.3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 28, 2003; 22.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,283 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Turbomeca Arriel 1K1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Turbomeca Arriel 1K1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Salt Lake City UT at 2:11 am
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 am from SLC, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | 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.