quick-thinking. >> it took place in a remote area in utah wilderness. the story from abc's kayna whitworth. >> reporter: a dangerous recovery operation after a hiker fell 200 feet. utah department of public official hovering just feet from the face of the cliff. on the edge, you see the rescue team using those orange safety ropes, and then as the rope tightens -- it catches the blade. >> it became from routine to very desperate in just a matter of seconds. >> reporter: watch again -- the rescue team said it sounded like an explosion as it went tumbling down the rocks. >> didn't have time to be scared. we need to look for a place to crash. there's something definitely wrong here. >> reporter: he was able to land the badly-damaged chopper in a nearby field, saving all seven of the rescue crew. in the last five years, the utah department of public safety has nearly 500 successful rescue or recovery missions. >> good move by the pilot.