- Date
- March 1, 1982, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Alma, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N580PBell 206B III
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 1, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820301001259A
- Case key
- 69747
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that before the accident, the flight had been uneventful and all instruments were reading normal except the tot gauge. Reportedly, it was indicating 750 degrees, which was about 100 degrees higher than normal for his power setting of 70% torque. He stated he was flying at 70 knots when the helicopter started loosing RPM. The passenger stated that they were about 200 to 300 ft above a ridge as they were flying southwest. The passenger reported that after they crossed the ridge, the helicopter began losing altitude fast. According to the pilot, they were coming up on a ridge line, when the RPM began dropping; however, he was unable to decelerate enough to land on top of the ridge. The helicopter came in contact with the ground on the south-southwest side of the ridge line and crashed. Examination of the engine revealed the air bleed valve was dirty and had a hole in the diaphragm. In this condition, the valve would close late. The elevation was about 12,000 ft MSL, wind gusting 30 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N580P
- Reported as
- Bell 206B III
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2694
- Airframe hours
- 1,789
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Public Service Co. Of Co.
- Registered owner
- Public Service Co. Of Co.
- Departed
- Denver, CO
- Destination
- Leadville, CO
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 5,389 total · 296 in this make and model · 4,889 as pilot in command · 138 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.