# NTSB DEN80FTA21: Bell UH-1B, N911CD, Red Lodge, MT, September 1, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 1, 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: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 18, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FTA21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTA21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2613   80/9/1  NR.RED LODGE,MT       BELL UH-1B          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 7096
        TIME - 1530                    N911CD              PX-  0  0  5  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 597 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         RED LODGE,MT                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           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                                      10000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      42
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- COLLIDED WITH ROCK FORMATION.D/A APRX 11000FT.WND GSTG 20KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N911CD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911CD-2014-11-24), registration cancelled 2014-11-24, S/N 62-4603, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH-1B
- Registry model: [Bell UH-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1b) (registry code 1181410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming T-53 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (registry code 41552, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- 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 19800901039029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800901039029A), Sep 1, 1980: Bell UH1B, Red Lodge, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted liftoff at high weight for density altitude. Unable to clear terrain.

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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