# NTSB FTW95TA228: Bell 206B-III, N85RP, Meeker, CO, June 2, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1995, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Meeker, CO
- Coordinates: 40.050083, -107.890045 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0501&lon=-107.8900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19595
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95TA228
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19595/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95TA228

## Probable cause

FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. A FACTOR WAS SOFT TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF THE CANOPY FOGGED OVER AND THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. THE LEFT SKID SETTLED IN THE SNOW AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED LEFT APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES. A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM, THE MAIN ROTOR SHAFT FRACTURED, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE PENETRATED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CABIN.

## Factual narrative

On June 2, 1995, at 1215 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206B-III helicopter, N85RP, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing near Meeker, Colorado.  The airline transport rated pilot and passenger were not injured.  The helicopter was being operated as a public use flight by the Department of the Interior under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, he landed the helicopter on the snow covered ground to pick up passengers who had been measuring snow pack at 11,200 feet above mean sea level.  One passenger boarded the helicopter.  (Due to aircraft performance at altitude one passenger per load was maximum.)  Following the takeoff, the canopy fogged and the pilot made a precautionary landing.  During the landing, the pilot selected his landing point by looking out the side window.  The pilot said that as he lowered the collective after landing, the helicopter broke through the snow and rolled approximately 30 degrees left.  The main rotor severed the tail boom and the main rotor shaft fractured which was followed by a main rotor blade penetrating the cabin.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85RP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85RP-2017-04-13), registration cancelled 2017-04-13, S/N 1654, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206B-III
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1654
- Airframe hours: 4454
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Department Of The Interior
- Registered owner: James B. Dirker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 18, 1995, 6 hours before
- Departed: 2V3, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 17,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19950602042879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950602042879A), Jun 2, 1995: Bell 206B3, Meeker, CO, Substantial damage. Usg snow depth flight. Broke thru snow landing. Rolled. Rotors severed tailboom. One blade penetrated the cabin.

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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