# NTSB SEA06CA161: Bell 206L-3, N206UH, Salt Lake City, UT, August 11, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2006, 22:43 local (Aug 11, 2006, 04:43 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.783611, -111.958335
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7836&lon=-111.9583&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64330
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64330/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64330
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA161

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance by allowing the helicopter to drift backwards, resulting in its tail rotor striking a hangar.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, hover - in ground effect
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - hangar/airport building

## Analysis

While hovering prior to takeoff and waiting for company traffic to pass clear, the helicopter inadvertently drifted backward striking a hangar with its tail rotor, which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.

## Factual narrative

While hovering prior to takeoff and waiting for company traffic to pass clear, the helicopter inadvertently drifted backward striking a hangar with its tail rotor, which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N206UH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N206UH), registered now, S/N 51167 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206L-3
- Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 51167
- Engines: Allison 250-C30P turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Methods Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT
- Destination: Toole, UT
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1; flight hours: 5,255 total, 353 in this make and model, 134 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night

## 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 20060810014959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060810014959A), Aug 10, 2006: Bell 206L3, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was hovering expecting a clearance to takeoff on a medical mission. Air traffic delayed clearance due to an inbound helicopter landing at the same…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2006, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64330. 561 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 561 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393262&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.