# NTSB DEN89FA019: Bell 206L-3, N99TV, Deckers, CO, October 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1988, 14:24 local (20:24 UTC)
- Place: Deckers, CO
- Coordinates: 38.990089, -105.049087 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9901&lon=-105.0491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 8, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17567/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA019

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE ON A CORPORATE FLT THRU A CANYON IN MARGINAL WX CONDS, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE STATIC PORTION OF A POWER TRANSMISSION LINE & CRASHED. THE ACDNT OCCURRED WHERE A 2,554 FT SPAN OF THE POWER LINE CROSSED THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER. THE POWER LINE (WITH LESS THAN 150 FT MEAN HEIGHT ABOVE THE TERRAIN) WAS NOT MARKED, NOR WAS IT REQUIRED TO BE MARKED, ALTHOUGH SPHERICAL MARKERS HAD ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED FOR INSTLN ON THIS SPAN. ACCORDING TO LOCAL MEDIA PLTS, THE PLT OF N99TV WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA & WAS AWARE OF THE POWER LINE. THE NEAREST WITNESS (ABT 1-1/2 MI FROM THE CRASH SITE) SAW THE HELICOPTER PASS OVERHEAD BEFORE IT CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THIS WITNESS, THERE WAS REDUCED VISIBILITY IN THE AREA WITH LIGHT RAIN. HIKERS IN THE AREA RPRTD RAIN, HAIL, HIGH WINDS & REDUCED VISIBILITY WITH MTN TOPS OBSCURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99TV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99TV-1989-04-04), registration cancelled 1989-04-04, S/N 51116 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3
- Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 51116
- Airframe hours: 1952
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Kusa Tv, doing business as Kusa Tv, Channel 9
- Registered owner: Kusa Television
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 27, 1988, 92 hours before
- Departed: OV2, SALIDA, CO
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,212 total, 405 in this make and model, 5,083 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day

## 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 19881019048649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881019048649A), Oct 19, 1988: Bell 206L, Deckers, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Tv new helicopter struck power lines flying low in clouds , rain and high winds. Impact severed main rotor mast.

## Other investigations on N99TV (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN84FA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA290), Sep 13, 1984: Bell 206L-3 (N99TV), Denver, CO, destroyed

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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