- Date
- July 29, 1987, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place
- Dubois, WY
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4580YBell 204B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 7, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870729046029A
- Case key
- 17284
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
The commercial plt was performing external sling loads in support of seismic operations. The plt reported that the engine failed during a load release and the plt executed an autorotation. This resulted in a hard landing in heavy timber on sloping terrain. The helicopter rolled over on the right side. A post accident engine inspection revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions /failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4580Y
- Reported as
- Bell 204B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2066
- Airframe hours
- 4,000
- Engine
- Lycoming T-53-L13B, 1,250 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Registered owner
- Bill Williams-Southern Aero
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 3, 1987 · 18 hours before
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
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,200 total · 1,600 in this make and model · 1,600 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °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 N4580Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.