# NTSB DEN81FTE68: Bell 206B, N39082, Rio Blanco, CO, August 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 25, 1981
- Place: Rio Blanco, CO · RIO BLANCO, CO
- Location: 39.7378° N, 107.9454° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rio Blanco, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7378&lon=-107.9454&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 5, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE68
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE68

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3202  81/8/25    RIO BLANCO,CO       BELL 206B           CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 3530
        TIME - 1600                    N39082              PX-  0  0  0  CONSTRUCTION              TOTAL HOURS, 490 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RIO BLANCO,CO               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: GROUND CREWMAN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BINDING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LATERAL IMBALANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
        REMARKS- PULLING TRANS WIRE.PLT TOLD TOW ROPE FREE WHLG FM TRUCK,TRUCK OUT OF VIEW.RQRD FEEDING BY CREWMAN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39082 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- 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 19810825061229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810825061229A), Aug 25, 1981: Bell 206B, Rio Blanco, CO, Destroyed. Helicopter was pulling rope when it caught and caused chopper to crash out of control.

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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