- Date
- December 31, 1984, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Jackson, WY
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3898YBell 206-L3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19841231069249A
- Case key
- 16618
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Plt had landed on prepared area (snow packed down by heli ski guide) to embark ski passengers. On departure plt lifted to hover, turned to desired hdg and initiated forward transition. As acft passed boundry of packed snow, rotor wash picked up soft loose snow, obscuring visual references. Acft had not achieved translational lift and engine was at max torque output, negating climb. Plt attempted to 'set acft down' but run-on landing resulted. Due to excess forward speed and soft snow, acft nosed over.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3898Y
- Reported as
- Bell 206-L3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 51024
- Airframe hours
- 725
- Engine
- Allison 250-C30P, 317 lbs thrust, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Queen City Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Briles Wing & Helicopter Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 19, 1984
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,670 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 2,385 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 23 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3898Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.