# NTSB DEN83AA033: Bell 206B, N2752Y, Larkspur, CO, December 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 7, 1982, 21:58 local (Dec 8, 1982, 04:58 UTC)
- Place: Larkspur, CO
- Coordinates: 39.180889, -104.890838 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1809&lon=-104.8908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83AA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71371/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83AA033

## 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

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2752Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2695
- Airframe hours: 1491
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 28; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821207062759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821207062759A), Dec 7, 1982: Bell 206B, Larkspur, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Helicopter crashed during very marginal weather conditions. Witnesses reported icing on cars at time of accident.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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