# NTSB DEN85FA067: Bell 206 L-1, N40TE, Carson, NM, January 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 20, 1985, 23:15 local (Jan 21, 1985, 06:15 UTC)
- Place: Carson, NM
- Coordinates: 36.389961, -105.789886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3900&lon=-105.7899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16523/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA067

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN OPEN TERRAIN DURING A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT WAS HEADING NORTH AND WAS ON A CONVERGING COURSE WITH HIGH TENSION LINES THAT WERE ABOUT 80 TO 100 FT HIGH AND THE BELLY COUNTED SPOTLIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN IT PASSED OVERHEAD. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED SNOW COVERED TERRAIN IN A STEEP DESCENDING BANK TO THE RIGHT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. THE POWER LINES SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF HAVING BEEN STRUCK. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 300 FT EAST OF THE POWER LINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N40TE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206 L-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45712
- Airframe hours: 7237
- Engines: ALLISON 250C-28B 435 lbs thrust turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Ems, doing business as [Ems]
- Registered owner: Edward M. Zimmer, Jr. Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 1985, 10 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: TACO, TAOS, NM
- Airport: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 14,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850120002019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850120002019A), Jan 20, 1985: Bell 206L1, Carson, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impacted level terrain at night in a right bank and descent at high airspeed. Fog in area.

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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