- Date
- May 20, 1983, 09:43 local (15:43 UTC)
- Place
- Montrose, CO
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1129WBell 47G-3B-1
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830520020619A
- Case key
- 16077
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
Wx at the departure point was VMC but the surrounding mountans were partially obscured. The plt stated that he was following a road up the mountain & landed as the visibility deteriorated. Each time the cloud lifted the plt would lift-off & again land as the visibility deteriorated. During the 5th trip up the road, visibility was about 1/2 mi. The plt stated the 1st switchback was '...not landable, but the second one appeared to be.' About 1/2 way to the second switchback the ceiling '...plummeted down. The road closed in behind me and I started loosing the next switchback.' Oak brush trees on the hillside bore evidence of being cut & broken next to the wreckage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1129W
- Reported as
- Bell 47G-3B-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1181028
- Airframe hours
- 9,429
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20-B, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Thunderbird Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 1, 1983 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- Montrose, CO
- Destination
- Storm King Mtn, CO
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,874 total · 342 in this make and model · 5,656 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.