# Accident 19990620021979A: Bell 206B, Telluride, CO, June 20, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 20, 1999, 12:30 local time
- Place: Telluride, CO
- Airport: Telluride Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9392° N, 107.9009° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9392&lon=-107.9009&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39122, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39122-2000-08-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN99LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990620021979A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JUNE 20, 1999, AT 1312 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL BH-206B HELICOPTER, N39122, LANDED HARD APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS SHORT OF THE HELIPAD AT TELLURIDE, COLORADO. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THIS LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED TELLURIDE AT 1221. (-23)^PRIVACY DATA ^WAS ACTING AS PIC DURING APPROACH TO LANDING WITH A SLIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND, WHEN THE HELICOPTER LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. AFTER ONE OR TWO ROTATIONS ^PRIVACY DATA O^TOOK CONTROL OF THE A/C AND STOPPED THE ROTATION OF THE A/C JUST BEFORE IT IMPACTED THE GROUND.

## 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 DEN99LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA105), Jun 20, 1999: Bell BH-206B (N39122), Telluride, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Settling with power and a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Factors were an improperly planned approach by the pilot in command, high density altitude, and inadequate supervision by the safety pilot.

## Other reports on N39122 (1)

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

- [Incident 19960901044889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960901044889I), Sep 1, 1996: Bell 206B (N39122), Sabine Pass, TX. Narrative: approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot noticed a large loss of fuel as indicated. The pilot landed and checked for leaks and noticed…

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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