# NTSB DEN86LA007: Bell BH 206BII, N1959G, Kremmling, CO, October 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 10, 1985, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Kremmling, CO
- Coordinates: 39.919639, -104.870613 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9196&lon=-104.8706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA007

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance - exceeded (cause)
  - performance data - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

WHILE MANEUVERING TO OBSERVE WILDLIFE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO HOVER OUT OF GND EFFECT IN STEEP MTNS TERRAIN AT 9800 FT MSL AT 2550 LBS GW WITH A 7-10KT TAILWIND. ACCORDING TO ACFT HOGE CHARTS IN THE POH, THE ACFT WAS NOT CAPABLE OF HOGE IN THE CONDITIONS OF ALT, GW, AND TAILWIND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ATTEMPT TO EXCEED THE ACFT CAPABILITIES RESULTED A RT SPIN FROM WHICH THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO RECOVER DUE TO LOW ALT AGL. THE ACFT DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL IMPACT WITH TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1959G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1959G-2012-08-06), registration cancelled 2012-08-06, S/N 725, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell BH 206BII
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 725
- Airframe hours: 1002
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Phillip J. Spano, Jr.
- Registered owner: Gates Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, October 9, 1985, 4 hours before
- Departed: HENDERSON, CO
- Destination: 20V, KREMMLING, CO
- Airport: 20V, Kremmling

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,475 total, 88 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EGE, 34 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 19851010051249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851010051249A), Oct 10, 1985: Bell 206B, Kremmling, CO, Substantial damage. Tail rotor lost effectiveness during high altitude low airspeed turn. Rotated about mast until impact with trees.

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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