19970612013819A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-3 · Weston, CO · June 12, 1997

Date: June 12, 1997 · 15:18 local
Place: Weston, CO
Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: D2SA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N207DS
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW97LA217
Reported as: Bell 206L3
Reported engine: Allison 250C30P
People aboard: 5
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,800 total699 in this make and model56 in the last 90 days

N207DSRegistration cancelled Jul 30, 2015 · Bell 206L-3S/N 51546 · Built 1991 Airframe modelBell 206L-3 Engine modelAllison 250-C30 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Helicopter was involved in gas line survey when it lost altitude, crashed into trees. (.4)the pilot said he crested a ridge and descended into the next valley following the terrain downhill. The wind felt like it was calm. As he approach the FAR side of the valley, the pilot realized he was going to have to make a 360 degree climbing turn in order to clear the ridge. Reportedly, after completing about 90 degrees of the turn, the helicopter was hit by a gust of wind from the rear, causing a 'significant decrease in apparent airspeed,' and the helicopter settled toward the trees. The pilot said he had to decide whether to attempt completing the turn and risk striking a tree with ground speed, or attempt a touchdown with zero airspeed. He chose the latter. The helicopter settled into trees and rolled over.

As the FAA filed it

HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN GAS LINE SURVEY WHEN IT LOST ALTITUDE, CRASHED INTO TREES. (.4)THE PILOT SAID HE CRESTED A RIDGE AND DESCENDED INTO THE NEXT VALLEY FOLLOWING THE TERRAIN DOWNHILL. THE WIND FELT LIKE IT WAS CALM. AS HE APPROACH THE FAR SIDE OF THE VALLEY, THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A 360 DEGREE CLIMBING TURN IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE RIDGE. REPORTEDLY, AFTER COMPLETING ABOUT 90 DEGREES OF THE TURN, THE HELICOPTER WAS HIT BY A GUST OF WIND FROM THE REAR, CAUSING A 'SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN APPARENT AIRSPEED,' AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED TOWARD THE TREES. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ATTEMPT COMPLETING THE TURN AND RISK STRIKING A TREE WITH GROUND SPEED, OR ATTEMPT A TOUCHDOWN WITH ZERO AIRSPEED. HE CHOSE THE LATTER. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO TREES AND ROLLED OVER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW97LA217Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWeston, COthe pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and failure to maintain adequate altitude and/or clearance from rising mountainous/hilly terrain. The unfavorable wind condition and low airspeed were related factors.Jun 12, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N207DS · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20140127000589AManeuver · Silt, COOn 01/27/2014 a bht 206 L3 registration # N207DS being operated by delta bravo sierra, inc., the area of operation was the Silt, CO area. The purpose for the operation was power line survey. At or around 0700 the aircraft was inspected by a certificated…Jan 27, 2014 · Destroyed · 3 fatal