# Accident 20040917022969A: Bell 214B1, Aspen, CO, September 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 2004, 13:00 local time
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: JOLL
- Location: 39.1897° N, 106.8194° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1897&lon=-106.8194&mi=10
- Aircraft: N214B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N214B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 214B-1 (registry code 1182105, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-214b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T-55 SER TS (registry code 41555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-55-ser-ts) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 214B1
- Reported engine: LYC T5508D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 22,000 total, 630 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040917022969A

## Narrative

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

(-23) SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A HOVER AT APPROX. 80' AGL AND HAD JUST STARTED FORWARD FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION TO A STEEPLY SLOPED DOWN SKI RUN. BOTH SKIDS AND TAIL STINGER STRUCK THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME, PITCHING THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD AND CAUSING SUSBTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT AS IT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD CUTTING OFF THE TAILBOOM. THE BLADES ALSO STRUCK THE GROUND NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROLLED TO ITS LEFT, COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD BEEN HAVING ENGINE COMPRESSOR STALL PROBLEMS WITH THIS AIRCRAFT. A POLICE OFFICER INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ENGINE PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT.

## 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 DEN04LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA145), Sep 17, 2004: Bell 214B-1 (N214B), Aspen, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the inadvertent activation of the engine's fuel shut off valve, resulting in the reduction of engine power to 50 percent due to an improper cannon plug wire repair on the engine's wire harness…

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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