# Accident 19991124033689A: Bell 206L3, Rifle, CO, November 24, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 1999, 12:30 local time
- Place: Rifle, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5291° N, 107.7701° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5291&lon=-107.7701&mi=10
- Aircraft: N617DE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN00GA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00GA022) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991124033689A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON NOVEMBER 24, 1999, AT 1230 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A BELL 206 L-3 HELICOPTER, N617DE, OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING NEAR RIFLE, COLORADO. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT WAS NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THIS PUBLIC USE POSITIONING FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY INFORMATION, THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MONTROSE, COLORADO, AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 FOR A FLIGHT TO CRAIG, COLORADO.  WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 12,000 FEET APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES FROM RIFLE, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHICH NECESSITATED AN AUTOROTATION TO LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE RIFLE AIRPORT. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, AN ALLISON 250-C30P, PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF A CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL FAILURE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (-23)N617DE, A BELL 206 L3 SINGLE ENGINE HELICOPTER, EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY ENIGNE FAILURE. THE INITIAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED AT APPROX. 12,000 FEET MSL OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO AN OPEN AREA LOCATED 2 MILES SOUTH OF THE GARFIELD COUNTY AIRPORT, RIFL, COLORADO. THE ELEVATION OF THE LANDING AREA WAS 5765 FEET MSL. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER. INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE HAD FAILED INTERNALLY DUE FAILURE OF THE OIL SCAVENGE PUMP.THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE OF THE OIL SCAVENGE PUMP HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE ENGINE IS BEING TAKEN TO THE ALLISON FACTORY IN INDIAPOLIS, IND. FOR TEAR DOWN. WHEN THE TEARDOWN IS COMPLETE AND THE CAUSE OF THE OIL SCAVENGE PUMP FAILURE HAS BEEN DETERMINED A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED.

## 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 DEN00GA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00GA022), Nov 24, 1999: Bell 206 L-3 (N617DE), Rifle, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: a forced landing on rough, unsuitable terrain. A contributing factor was the partial loss of engine power, which resulted from improper maintenance by repair station personnel.

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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