# NTSB DEN84LA003: Bell 206B, N57556, Fort Bridger, WY, October 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1983, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Bridger, WY
- Coordinates: 41.320655, -110.380363 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3207&lon=-110.3804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA003

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ENROUTE FROM A POWDER MAGAZINE TO A STAGING AREA ABOUT 2 MI AWAY DURING A SEISMIC EXPLORATION OPERATION. THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE 100-200 FT AGL HE INITIATED A RIGHT TURN OF 60 DEG OF BANK TOWARDS A BOWL FORMED BY LOW LYING HILLS TO OBSERVE A HERD OF ANTELOPE. THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT ON THE LEEWARD SIDE OF THE HILL CAUSING THE ACFT TO SETTLE INTO SAGEBRUSH. THE PLT ESTIMATED HIS AIRSPEED TO BE 80 KTS AT IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N57556 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3094
- Airframe hours: 1467
- Engines: ALLISON 150-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Luebell Helicopter Services In
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 15, 1983, 77 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,331 total, 998 in this make and model, 6,018 as pilot in command, 215 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RKS, 65 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 19831004053939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831004053939A), Oct 4, 1983: Bell 206B, Ft Bridger, WY, Substantial damage. Encountered downdraft while circling at a low altitude in a canyon. Bounced off the ground and landed at base.

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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