- Date
- September 10, 1983, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Price, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3900QBell 206L-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 16002
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
The plt took off with an 800 lb sling load & used 100% torque to expedite clearing power lines. When clear of the lines, he started a climbing turn & reduced the torque to about 80%. At aprx 300 ft AGL & 50 to 60 KTS, the eng began surging which caused the helicopter to yaw repeatedly. Subsequently, the eng lost power & the plt released his load & made a forced landing in a wooded area. He used the collective to extend his flt to an open area. He reached the intended touchdown spot, but 'ran out of pitch & made a hard landing.' The helicopter rolled to the right & the main rotor blades struck the ground. An exam of the helicopter & eng revealed no reason for the loss of power. The density alt of the crash site was computed to be 11,093 ft. the helicopter had an allison 250-C30P eng which had recently been installed per STC SH296NM. The flt manual warned that with this eng installed, both fuel boost pumps shall be on during eng operation. The eng operated normally during a functional check.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3900Q
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45614
- Airframe hours
- 1,059
- Engine
- Allison 250-C30P, 650 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Operator
- Air Services Int'L
- Registered owner
- Air Services International
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 17, 1983 · 48 hours before
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,733 total · 535 in this make and model · 3,563 as pilot in command · 270 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 15 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F