DEN83AA033

NTSB accident investigation · Bell 206B · Larkspur, CO · December 8, 1982

Accident · FatalFinal report
Date
December 7, 1982, 21:58 local (Dec 8, 1982, 04:58 UTC)
Place
Larkspur, CO
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N2752YBell 206B
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report December 7, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19821207062759A
Case key
71371

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Analysis

N2752Y, a bell 206B helicopter, crashed in hilly terrain while on a flt to obtain video tape news of an aircraft accident. Plt was warned by FBO personnel of adverse wx conditions. Another plt who had just landed tried to persuade the plt not to fly. After departing with a special VFR clearance, radar advisories were provided until terrain precludedradar tracking. Witnesses along a highway observed the acft with the landing light on in snow & fog. One witness followed the acft aprx 20 min & estimated its altitude was 50 to 100 ft AGL & the speed was 40 mph. Some motorists reported ice on their windshields. The acft was found the next morning near the top & on the FAR side of a knoll that ithad crossed. It had crashed in a steep right bank. The alcohol level of a sample of the plt's blood was 0.093%. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found. Wx data above was the 2145 MST observation at arapahoe county arpt located 33 mi north of the accident site.

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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - snowFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot in commandCause
Self-induced pressurePilot in commandFactor
Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor

Aircraft

Registration
N2752Y
Reported as
Bell 206B
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
2695
Airframe hours
1,491
Engine
Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Koa-Tv Channel 4
Registered owner
General Electric Broadcasting
Departed
BJC · Broomfield, CO
Destination
PUB · Pueblo, CO

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
28
Certificate
Commercial
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
2,011 total · 1,920 in this make and model · 1,891 as pilot in command · 167 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
240° at 7 knots
Visibility
8 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,100 ft overcast
Temperature
68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
APA, 33 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.