# NTSB DEN80FA059: Bell 206A/B, N8030, Red Lodge, MT, August 30, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 30, 1980
- Place: Red Lodge, MT · RED LODGE, MT
- Location: 45.1933° N, 109.2501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Red Lodge, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1933&lon=-109.2501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3764  80/8/30  NR.RED LODGE,MT       BELL 206A/B         CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 2687
        TIME - 1715                    N8030               PX-  3  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 436 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GLACIER LAKE,MT             BILLINGS,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WINDSHIELD,DIRTY,FOGGY,ETC.-RESTRICTED VISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      11500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           SNOW, SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      35
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      OTHER
        REMARKS- PLT STATED WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP.WINDSHIELD DEFOG KIT NOT INSTALLED.AIR AMBULANCE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8030](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8030-1983-02-08), registration cancelled 1983-02-08, S/N 299 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206A/B
- Registry model: [Bell 206A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206a) (registry code 1181508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800830039039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800830039039A), Aug 30, 1980: Bell 206A, Red Lodge, MT, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost control of helicopter in hover over a lake when windshield fogged up. Spun into lake. No flotation equipment.

## Other investigations on N8030 (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 NYC73DGM21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73DGM21), Mar 22, 1973: Bell 206A (N8030), Rimersburg, PA, substantial damage

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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