# NTSB DEN84FA102: Bell 206B-III, N16803, Coalville, UT, February 25, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1984, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Coalville, UT
- Coordinates: 40.879528, -111.310394 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8795&lon=-111.3104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16201
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16201/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA102

## Sequence of events

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

- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,skid assembly - loose (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,skid assembly - improper
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - weak ice (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED WITH 'BEAR PAWS'. SNOWSHOE-LIKE DEVICES ON THE SKIDS TO DISTRIBUTE WEIGHT ON SOFT SURFACES. THE BEAR PAWS ON THIS ACFT ROTATED FREELY AROUND THE SKIDS, NOT TIGHTENED DOWN AS PER DESIGN SPEC. ALSO, BEAR PAWS ARE NOT APPROVED FOR AMERICAN ACFT BY THE FAA. THIS HELICOPTER LANDED ON WHAT THE PILOT THOUGHT WAS A FIRM LANDING SURFACE BUT WAS ACTUALLY 5 FT OF SNOW COVERED WITH A THIN CRUST OF ICE. A PASSENGER THAT THE PILOT HAD DEBOARDED EARLIER ABOUT 900 FT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, STATED THAT HE SAW THE HELICOPTER ROLL OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE APRX 5 MINS AFTER HE LEFT THE AIRCRAFT. THIS INDIVIDUAL STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT SHUT DOWN THE HELICOPTER AFTER HE WAS LEFT OFF. DURING THE ROLLOVER, ONE BLADE OF THE ROTOR SLICED THROUGH THE COCKPIT IT DEPARTED THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16803](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16803-1989-03-17), registration cancelled 1989-03-17, S/N 2225 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B-III
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2225
- Airframe hours: 4601
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Wiebe Gortmaker, doing business as Pegasus Helicopters Inc
- Registered owner: Redstone Investments, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 6, 1983, 259 hours before
- Departed: WANSHIP, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,674 total, 3,152 in this make and model, 3,610 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 114 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 38 nm away

## 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 19840225062699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840225062699A), Feb 25, 1984: Bell 206B, Coalville, UT, Destroyed. Rolled over after landing in crusted snow when ski with nonapproved bear paw installation broke thru snow crust.

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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