# NTSB DEN03LA078: Bell 206-L4, N70TV, Aurora, CO, May 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2003, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Aurora, CO - Coordinates: 39.599868, -104.710769 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5999&lon=-104.7108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56957 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56957/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA078 ## Probable cause inadequate infligt planning/decision by the flight crew and the check pilot's failure to initiate remedial action in a timely manner. Contributing factors were the pilot-in-command's inadequate supervision of the check pilot, the check pilot's lack of recency of high altitude experience, and the high density altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, flightcrew (cause) - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command - autorotation - performed, check pilot - remedial action - delayed, check pilot (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of recent experience in type operation, check pilot (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), the helicopter was returning to Centennial Airport, Englewood, after the crew had filmed a news story. He was allowing the check pilot (CP) to fly the helicopter. The PIC "bumped the throttle" to simulate a power loss. The CP turned into the wind and slowed to 60 knots. The PIC consulted the CP and confirmed the landing location and recovery procedures (i.e., rotor rpm in the green arc, full throttle at 200 feet agl). The CP flared the helicopter 75 feet above the ground but didn't apply power until they were 20 feet above the ground. Rotor speed decayed, and the helicopter struck the ground, bounced, spun 180 degrees, and rolled over on its left side. According to the CP, the PIC initiated a forced landing. He wrote, "I entered the [autorotation] and turned into the wind. During the power recovery, the engine did not respond in a timely manner and ground contact was the result." According to the FAA inspector who interviewed the crew, the CP did not have recent helicopter experience involving operations above 5,000 feet. Due to a lack of prior planning between the two pilots, "the [CP] assumed that the PIC was going to reapply the throttle for a power recovery. At the same time, the [PIC] assumed that the [CP] was going to apply power [to recover]. The result of this lack of CRM (cockpit resource management) was that the power was applied at a point where the descent rate could not be arrested..." At the time of the accident, the helicopter was carrying 400 pounds of fuel, television cameras and other equipment, and a cameraman. The density altitude was computed to be 7,143 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2003, approximately 1715 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206-L4, N70TV, registered to and operated by Helicopters, Inc., of Cahokia, Illinois, and doing business as KMGH-TV, Denver Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a simulated engine failure in Aurora, Colorado. The airline transport pilot certificated check airman received minor injuries, and the commercial certificated pilot-in-command and a mechanic-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Englewood, Colorado, approximately 1645. According to the accident report submitted by the pilot-in-command (PIC), the helicopter was returning to Centennial Airport, Englewood, after the crew had filmed a news story. The PIC was allowing the check pilot (CP) to fly the helicopter. The PIC said he "bumped the throttle" to simulate a power loss. The CP turned into the wind and slowed to 60 knots. The PIC consulted the CP and confirmed the landing location and recovery procedures (i.e., rotor rpm in the green arc, full throttle at 200 feet agl). The CP flared the helicopter 75 feet above the ground but didn't apply power until they were 20 feet above the ground. Rotor speed decayed, and the helicopter struck the ground, bounced, spun 180 degrees, and rolled over on its left side. The main rotor blades severed the tail boom. According to the accident report submitted by the CP, the PIC initiated a forced landing. He wrote, "I entered the [autorotation] and turned into the wind. During the power recovery, the engine did not respond in a timely manner and ground contact was the result." An FAA inspector went to the scene and interviewed the crew. According to the inspector's report, the CP did not have recent helicopter experience involving operations above 5,000 feet. Due to a lack of prior planning between the two pilots, "the [CP] assumed that the PIC was going to reapply the throttle for a power recovery. At the same time, the [PIC] assumed that the [CP] was going to apply power [to recover]. The result of this lack of CRM (cockpit resource management) was that the power was applied at a point where the descent rate could not be arrested..." At the time of the accident, the helicopter was carrying 400 pounds of fuel, television cameras and other equipment, and a cameraman. The density altitude was computed to be 7,202 feet msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: N70TV (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-L4 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 52020 - Airframe hours: 5597 - Engines: Allison 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 2, 2003, 16 hours before - Departed: APA, Englewood, CO - Destination: APA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 25, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 12,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command - Check pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 12, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 14,085 total, 7,378 in this make and model, 14,085 as pilot in command, 134 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 9 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: BKF, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030508009409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030508009409A), May 8, 2003: Bell 206L4, Aurora, CO, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft was returning from a tv filming back to their base at centennial airport, Colorado when the crew decided to practice "engine out simulations".… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.