# NTSB DEN84FA038: Bell 206B, N1078V, Ft. Morgan, CO, December 3, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 1983, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Morgan, CO
- Coordinates: 40.259593, -103.790275 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2596&lon=-103.7903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16185/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA038

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
- Roll over, landing

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED & OPERATED BY A TV STATION & WAS BEING USED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO A NEWS EVENT. WHILE EN ROUTE, CLOUDS & REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO FOG WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD COVERED WITH POWDERED SNOW. DURING THE LANDING, THE POWDERED SNOW WAS BLOWN WHICH RESULTED IN A WHITE-OUT CONDITION. THE PLT TRIED TO MAKE A NORMAL TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT SKID TOUCHED DOWN 1ST & DUG INTO THE GROUND ABOUT 4 TO 6 INCHES WHILE TRAVELING IN A LATERAL DIRECTION. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ABOUT 40 FT FROM THE 1ST GROUND SCAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1078V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1078V-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 2923, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2923
- Airframe hours: 3457
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kbtv Broadcasting, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 1983, 52 hours before
- Departed: DENVER, CO
- Destination: BRUSH, CO
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 6,140 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 246 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19831203073809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831203073809A), Dec 3, 1983: Bell 206B, Ft Morgan, CO, Substantial damage. Blowing snow caused whiteout landing in a field due to fog. A skid touched during hover caused dynamic rollover.

## Other investigations on N1078V (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA93FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93FA048), Jan 3, 1993: Bell 206B3 (N1078V), Ogden, UT, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S CONTINUATION OF VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS DECISION TO CONTINUE HIS LANDING ATTEMPTS UNDER THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE…

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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