# NTSB SEA97LA015: Bell 206B-3, N2762G, Casper, WY, October 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 1996, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Casper, WY - Coordinates: 41.140007, -104.78907 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1400&lon=-104.7891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42530 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42530/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA015 ## Probable cause loss of power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot was operating outside height/velocity curve parameters, when the loss of power occurred. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command - height/velocity curve - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot stated that the helicopter's engine flamed out, and he made an autorotation to a county road. During a slide-on landing, the right skid gear broke, and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. The pilot noted that he did not recall an audio warning, and the rpm had bled down before landing. He stated that he had made two earlier precautionary landings during the flight, due to the flight being conducted in visible precipitation. In both instances, he stated that he found no evidence of ice or snow buildup in the intake system. The engine was later removed and tested in a test cell, where it functioned normally. Sufficient fuel was found on board the helicopter. FAA inspectors noted that the loss of power occurred at an airspeed and altitude that may have precluded a successful forced landing. ## Factual narrative On October 16, 1996, approximately 1600 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206-BIII helicopter, N2762G, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Casper, Wyoming. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The aircraft was operated by Bighorn Airways, and was on a positioning flight, operated under 14 CFR 91. The aircraft was on a flight from Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Sheridan, Wyoming. A company flight plan was filed for the flight. There was no fire, and no report of the ELT actuating. The pilot stated that the engine flamed out. He made an autorotation to a county road. The right skid gear broke during a slide-on landing, and the aircraft rolled over on its right side. The pilot noted that he did not recall an audio warning, and the rpm had bled down before landing. He stated that he had made two earlier precautionary landings during the flight, due to the flight being conducted in visible precipitation. In both instances, he stated that he found no evidence of ice or snow buildup in the intake system. The engine was later removed and tested in a test cell, where it functioned normally. Sufficient fuel was found on board the aircraft. FAA inspectors noted that the pilot had been operating at an airspeed and altitude that may have precluded a successful forced landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2762G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2762G-1996-12-03), registration cancelled 1996-12-03, S/N 2707 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B-3 - Registry model: [Bell 206B-III](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b-iii) (registry code 1181506) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2707 - Airframe hours: 4350 - Engines: Allison 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bighorn Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1996, 70 hours before - Departed: RKS, ROCK SPRINGS, WY - Destination: SHR, SHERIDAN, WY - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 23,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 22,900 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CPR ## 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 19961016032989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961016032989A), Oct 16, 1996: Bell 206B3, Casper, WY, Substantial damage. Engine flameout. Autorotated to road. Right skid broke on slide on landing. Rotor decay. Too low and slow. 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.