# NTSB DEN80FA056: Bell 206L, N144MB, Cortez, CO, August 19, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 19, 1980
- Place: Cortez, CO · CORTEZ, CO
- Location: 37.3498° N, 108.5761° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cortez, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3498&lon=-108.5761&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129461
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1908  80/8/19    CORTEZ,CO           BELL 206L           CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 4473
        TIME - 1220                    N144MB              PX-  0  0  2  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 464 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CORTEZ,CO                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 20KTS.D/A APPROX 8600FT.WIND RPTD COMPLETELY CALM AFT ACCD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N144MB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800819036799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800819036799A), Aug 19, 1980: Bell 206L, Cortez, CO, Substantial damage. Helicopter hit by strong gust that may have unloaded rotors, while slowing for touch down. Dropped 20 ft to impact.

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.

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