# NTSB SEA95GA062: Bell 206, N2277T, Dillon, MT, February 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: February 24, 1995, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Dillon, MT - Coordinates: 44.780227, -112.620529 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7802&lon=-112.6205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95GA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42069/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95GA062 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A LANDING SITE THAT WAS NOT SUITABLE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER. FACTORS INCLUDE TERRAIN COVERED WITH SOFT SNOW. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, standing - engine(s) not operating - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT LANDED AT A REMOTE SNOW-SURVEY SITE, AND THEN MOVED THE CYCLIC IN A CIRCLE TO TEST WHETHER THE SNOW WOULD SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER. SENSING THAT THE SNOW WAS FIRM ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE HELICOPTER'S WEIGHT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. AFTER HE HAD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND THE ROTOR WAS DECELERATING, ONE OF THE SNOWPAD-EQUIPPED SKIDS BROKE THROUGH THE SNOW. AS THE SKID BROKE THROUGH THE SNOW, THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE SNOW AND THEN CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 1995, approximately 1030 mountain standard time (MST), the tail rotor of a Bell 206, N2277T, impacted the snow as the pilot was shutting down the aircraft about 42 miles southwest of Dillon, Montana. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The Public Use snow-survey flight, which departed another remote site about 1000 that morning, had landed on the snow pack in order for the Soil Conservation Service to measure the snow depth. The aircraft was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he set the helicopter down on the snow and rotated the cyclic in a circle in order to check the firmness of the snowpack before shutting down. Because the snow appeared to be firm enough to hold the weight of the helicopter, he decided it would be all right to shut down the engine. As he shut off the engine and the main rotor began to decelerate, one of the skids broke through the snow, and the tail rotor impacted the snow, and then struck the tail boom. The helicopter's skids were equipped with snowpads. The pilot did not return pages three and five of NTSB Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2277T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2277T-2002-08-19), registration cancelled 2002-08-19, S/N 3631, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206 - 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: 3631 - Airframe hours: 8051 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 425 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: Carisch, Mike G., doing business as Carisch Helicopters - Registered owner: Garlick Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1994, 96 hours before - Departed: DLN, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19950224003259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950224003259A), Feb 24, 1995: Bell 206B, Dillon, MT, Substantial damage. Public use snow survey landed on deep snow. Snow pad equipped ski broke through crust. Rotor chopped tail boom. ## Other investigations on N2277T (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 FTW00LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA181), Jun 19, 2000: Bell 206B (N2277T), Deville, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the external load that was setting on the ground while hovering. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention. 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.