- Date
- August 6, 1989, 18:45 local (Aug 7, 1989, 01:45 UTC)
- Place
- Boulder City, NV
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9916KBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890806031599A
- Case key
- 41061
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilot displayed poor inflight planning while maneuvering. The pilot did not identify the wind conditions resulting in a loss of directional control. The pilot's corrective action was inadequate and as result, the helicopter collided with the terrain.
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
During a sightseeing flight, the pilot descended the helicopter to a low altitude and decreased airspeed. The pilot then reported that the helicopter lost tail rotor effectiveness and began to spin. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter prior to it touching down hard. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9916K
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1939
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 425 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Helicopter Services
- Departed
- LAS · Las Vegas, NV
- Destination
- LAS · Las Vegas, NV
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total · 300 in this make and model · 1,745 as pilot in command · 104 in the last 90 days · 48 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 25 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.