# NTSB DEN81FTE02: Bell 206L, N2137U, Grand Junction, CO, October 6, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 6, 1981
- Place: Grand Junction, CO · GRAND JUNCTION, CO
- Location: 39.0639° N, 108.5506° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Junction, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0639&lon=-108.5506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123294
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE02-123294

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2455   81/10/6   GRAND JUNCTION,CO   BELL 206L           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 25, 1875
        TIME - 1420                    N2137U              PX-  0  0  1  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WALKER FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PUEBLO,CO                   GRAND JUNCTION,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        REMARKS- RATED PAX ATTEMPTED TO SAVE AIRCRAFT.UNSUCCESSFUL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2137U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2137U-1989-12-20), registration cancelled 1989-12-20, S/N 45727 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Walker Field

## 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 19811006065589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811006065589A), Oct 6, 1981: Bell 206L1, Grand Junction, CO, Substantial damage. Owner pilot failed to arrest practice autorotation descent. Chief pilot failed to correct. Impact damaged tailboom.

## Other investigations on N2137U (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 MIA89IA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89IA186), Jul 6, 1989: Bell 206L-1 (N2137U), Chiefland, FL, incident, no damage. Probable cause: ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FIRST STAGE TURBINE WHEEL DISK.

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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