What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On may 6, 2000 at 0940 MDT, a Bell 206-L4 heli, N52192 was substantially damaged during an impact with a lake while manuevering near Bailey, CO. The pricate pilot received a broken leg and other minor injuries, while the passengers reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed littleton, CO. From a private helped at approx. 0830 MDT. According to the pilot, he was attempting to land near mud lake (elevation 10,200 feet). While operating at an airspeed of 20 knots over a calm lake, the pilot identified a landing area and initiated an approach. At approx. 20 AGL, the heli started to rotate to the right. The pilot tried to increase power and gained approx. 15 feet before he descended and caught the left skid in the water and flipped over in the lake. (-19) on may 6, 2000, at 0940 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206-L4 helicopter, N52192, was substantially damaged during impact with water while maneuvering near Bailey, Colorado. The helicopter was owned and operated by a private individual under title 14 code of federal regulations part 91. The private pilot received serious injuries, and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed littleton, Colorado, from a private helipad approximately 0830. According to an FAA investigator, the pilot stated he was attempting to land near a small lake (elevation 10,900 feet). While operating at an airspeed of 20 knots over a calm lake, the pilot identified a landing area and initiated an approach. Approximately 20 feet AGL, the pilot observed a tree obstructing the landing area. During a maneuver to avoid the tree, the helicopter rotated to the right, descended, and impacted the water. The helicopter came to rest partially submerged in the lake.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MAY 6, 2000 AT 0940 MDT, A BELL 206-L4 HELI, N52192 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN IMPACT WITH A LAKE WHILE MANUEVERING NEAR BAILEY, CO. THE PRICATE PILOT RECEIVED A BROKEN LEG AND OTHER MINOR INJURIES, WHILE THE PASSENGERS REPORTED NO INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED LITTLETON, CO. FROM A PRIVATE HELPED AT APPROX. 0830 MDT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND NEAR MUD LAKE (ELEVATION 10,200 FEET). WHILE OPERATING AT AN AIRSPEED OF 20 KNOTS OVER A CALM LAKE, THE PILOT IDENTIFIED A LANDING AREA AND INITIATED AN APPROACH. AT APPROX. 20 AGL, THE HELI STARTED TO ROTATE TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT TRIED TO INCREASE POWER AND GAINED APPROX. 15 FEET BEFORE HE DESCENDED AND CAUGHT THE LEFT SKID IN THE WATER AND FLIPPED OVER IN THE LAKE. (-19) ON MAY 6, 2000, AT 0940 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206-L4 HELICOPTER, N52192, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING IMPACT WITH WATER WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR BAILEY, COLORADO. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL UNDER TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED LITTLETON, COLORADO, FROM A PRIVATE HELIPAD APPROXIMATELY 0830. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INVESTIGATOR, THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND NEAR A SMALL LAKE (ELEVATION 10,900 FEET). WHILE OPERATING AT AN AIRSPEED OF 20 KNOTS OVER A CALM LAKE, THE PILOT IDENTIFIED A LANDING AREA AND INITIATED AN APPROACH. APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AGL, THE PILOT OBSERVED A TREE OBSTRUCTING THE LANDING AREA. DURING A MANEUVER TO AVOID THE TREE, THE HELICOPTER ROTATED TO THE RIGHT, DESCENDED, AND IMPACTED THE WATER. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN THE LAKE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.