# NTSB DEN82FA182: Bell 206B, N49593, Billings, MT, September 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1982, 18:48 local (Sep 4, 1982, 00:48 UTC)
- Place: Billings, MT
- Location: 45.7833° N, 108.5007° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Billings, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7833&lon=-108.5007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 3, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69953
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69953/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FA182

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper alignment - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED LARAMIE AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL. AT 1840 THE PLT CONTACTED BILLINGS TOWER & STATED HE HAD A LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER HE RADIOED THAT HE WAS GOING DOWN. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT COMING DOWN "REAL HARD." THE ACFT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 4.5 MI SE OF THE ARPT. THE USABLE FUEL CAPACITY IS 74.97 GALS & THE AVERAGE FUEL BURN IS BETWEEN 24-26 GPH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N49593 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 176
- Airframe hours: 3939
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters
- Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Helicopters
- Departed: C, LARAMIE, WY
- Destination: C, BILLINGS, MT
- Airport: BIL, Billings Logan Internt'L

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,241 total, 220 in this make and model, 170 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820903047839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820903047839A), Sep 3, 1982: Bell 206B, Billings, MT, Destroyed. Aircraft crash during emergency landing after engine quit from fuel exhastion. Pilot reported low fuel light.

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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