# Accident 20000506013169A: Bell 206L4, Bailey, CO, May 6, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 6, 2000, 09:40 local time
- Place: Bailey, CO
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.3995° N, 105.4705° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3995&lon=-105.4705&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52192 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW00LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000506013169A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 FTW00LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA140), May 6, 2000: Bell 206-L4 (N52192), Bailey, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering. A factor was the high density altitude weather conditions.

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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