# Accident 19970612013819A: Bell 206L3, Weston, CO, June 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 12, 1997, 15:18 local time
- Place: Weston, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: D2SA
- Location: 37.1291° N, 105.0093° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1291&lon=-105.0093&mi=10
- Aircraft: N207DS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N207DS-2015-07-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30P
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 699 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA217) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970612013819A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA217), Jun 12, 1997: Bell 206L-3 (N207DS), Weston, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the 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…

## Other reports on N207DS (1)

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

- [Accident 20140127000589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140127000589A), Jan 27, 2014: Bell 206L-3 (N207DS), Silt, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. On 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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