# NTSB DEN83FA092: Bell 206L-1, N1759D, Salt Lake City, UT, April 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1983, 05:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Location: 40.7608° N, 111.8910° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salt Lake City, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7608&lon=-111.8910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA092

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - motivation, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (cause)
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - altimeter setting - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN DURING A TURN AFTER DEPARTING FROM A HOSPITAL HELIPAD WHILE ON AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL FLT TO PICK UP A MEDICAL TEAM TO CARE FOR A CRITICALLY ILL CHILD. THE PLT WAS NOTIFIED AT 0510 BY HIS DISPATCHER. AFTER CHECKING WX, THE PLT CALLED BACK & SAID IF THEY WANT TO TRY IT THERE WOULD BE NO GUARANTEE. THE DISPATCHER RELAYED THAT THEY (MEDICAL CENTER) INDICATED A GREAT NEED TO GO. PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE PLT WAS HEARD TO SAY 'I FEEL REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS FLIGHT.' THE WITNESS STATED THE PLT HAD BEEN ROTATING (ROTORS) OUTSIDE A LONG TIME & WOULD LIFT OFF THE PAD & THEN SET IT BACK DOWN. FROM 0700 ON 5/7 TO 0545 ON 5/11, THE PLT WAS EITHER ON DUTY WITHTHE NAT'L GUARD, HOSPITAL, FLYING, OR GOING TO SCHOOL FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 74 HRS DURING A PERIOD OF ABOUT 95 HRS. HIS AVERAGE REST DURING THIS PERIOD WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 5 HRS. THE ALTIMETER SETTING GIVEN TO THE PLT BY APPROACH CONTROL WAS 29.69. THE PLT'S ALT WAS FOUND SET AT 29.80, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ACFT TO BE 100 FT LOWER THAN INDICATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1759D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45559
- Airframe hours: 1150
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 435 lbs thrust turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Key Airlines, Inc., doing business as [Ems]
- Registered owner: B&A Leasing Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 16, 1983, 28 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,753 total, 89 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 6 nm away

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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