# NTSB DEN82DA155: Bell Helicopter Textron 47G3B1, N23DW, Buena Vista, CO, August 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1982, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Buena Vista, CO
- Coordinates: 38.830554, -106.139541 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8306&lon=-106.1395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 4, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70074
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70074/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA155

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,turn capability - exceeded (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRACK WILD SHEEP WITH TRANSMITTERS ATTACHED TO THEIR NECKS. WHILE MANEUVERING AT APPROXIMATELY 14,000 FEET ELEVATION AND EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN THE AIRCRAFT FELT "RUBBERY." HE APPLIED LEFT CYCLIC BUT THE LEFT SKID HIT A LARGE ROCK OUTCROPPING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000 FEET AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT A WEIGHT OF 2421 LBS. THIS COMBINATION REACHES THE LIMITS OF PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY FOR THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23DW-2009-07-13), registration cancelled 2009-07-13, S/N 6417861, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell TH-13T](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-th-13t) (registry code 1180813) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 641786L
- Airframe hours: 4737
- Engines: LYCOMING TVO-435-B1A 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Colorado Division Of Wildlife
- Registered owner: Colorado Division Of Wildlife
- Departed: SALIDA, CO
- Destination: SALIDA, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 14,000 total, 170 in this make and model, 13,900 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 108 °F

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.