# NTSB DEN84FA073: Bell 206L-1, N500CN, Huntington, UT, January 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 22, 1984, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Huntington, UT
- Coordinates: 39.410346, -110.999153 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4103&lon=-110.9992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16194
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16194/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA073

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE IN A STABILIZED, OUT-OF-GROUND-EFFECT HOVER, AT ABOUT 300 FEET AGL, THE HELICOPTER STARTED AN UNCONTROLLABLE RIGHT TURN. THE PLT STATED THAT USING FULL LEFT PEDDLE HAD NO EFFECT ON STOPPING THE SPIN. AT THE ONSET OF THE SPIN, THE OCCUPANTS OF THE ACFT FELT A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION. THE PLT STATED THAT HE REDUCED THE ROTOR RPM BY ROLLING OFF THE THROTTLE & LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO TREES IN A RIGHT SPIN. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE ACFT. THE COPLT STATED THAT HE FELT THAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF TAILROTOR AUTHORITY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HELICOPTER. REVIEW OF HEIGHT-VELOCITY CHART FOR THE BELL 206L-1 INDICATED THAT A SUCCESSUL AUTO-ROTATION FROM HOVER A 300 FEET AGL IS NOT PROBABLE. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 6800 FT MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N500CN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45188
- Airframe hours: 1291
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 500 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Price Air Med
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 23, 1983, 50 hours before
- Departed: HUNTINGTON, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,713 total, 47 in this make and model, 2,445 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F

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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