- Date
- November 8, 1991, 11:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5736BBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911108050059A
- Case key
- 41560
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
The pilot failed to maintain directional control. Factors to the accident were: inadeqaute remedial action, over confidence in personal ability, and lack of recent expereince.
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
At the beginning of the flight, the helicopter lifted off from the parking ramp and immediately began spinning as it ascended to an altitude of approximately 200 feet. Witnesses reported that at the peak of the climb, the rate of rotation slowed and the helicopter began a rapid descent. Pitch angle differences in the main rotor blades, along with a decrease in the main rotor rotation, were noticed. The helicopter's pitch angle (nose up and nose down) was erratic. Just prior to impact, the helicopter stabilized and was not rotating when it impacted on the ramp a few hundred yards from the takeoff point. The helicopter was engulfed in flames upon impact. Some of the witnesses reported that the helicopter was spinning to the left, while others reported that it was spinning to the right.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5736B
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3033
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Classic Helicopter Service
- Registered owner
- Henderson, Brent
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 2, 1991
- Airport
- SLC · Salt Lake City
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 77 total · 77 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.