# Accident 20180117006579A: Bell UH-1H, Raton, NM, January 17, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 17, 2018, 18:00 local time
- Place: Raton, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.7044° N, 104.2867° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7044&lon=-104.2867&mi=10
- Aircraft: N658H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N658H-2020-05-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1H (registry code 1181407, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T53L-703 (registry code 41557, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53l-703) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH-1H
- Reported engine: LYCOMING T53L-703
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA078) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180117006579A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 18, 2018, AT 1800 MST, A BELL UH-1H, N658H, FLYING TO A PRIVATE RANCH ON THE NEW MEXICO - COLORADO BORDER IMPACTED THE TOP OF A MESA WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES SHORTLY AFTER IMPACT. THE CERTIFCATED ROTORCRAFT-HELICOPTER PILOT AND FOUR PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED, AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT RATON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, RATON, NEW MEXICO ON JANUARY, 18, 2018 AT 1745 MST.

## 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 CEN18FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA078), Jan 18, 2018: Bell UH-1H (N658H), Raton, NM, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above mountainous terrain during cruise flight in dark night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

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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