Bell 206B N3173L

Summary

On 2 July 1984 at about 23:14 local time, a Bell 206B registered N3173L was involved in an accident near Englewood, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

2 July 1984 at 23:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Englewood, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Arapahoe County (APA)

Coordinates

39.6102, -104.8800

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N3173L

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Englewood → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN84FA207

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A 'HARD LEFT TURN' INTO A NEAR INVERTED POSITION BEFORE 'IT WENT DOWN HARD AND FAST.' INSPECTION DISCLOSED THE METAL CONNECTION FOR THE LEFT CYCLIC STICK WAS BROKEN IN HALF. (PLT WAS FLYING FROM LEFT SEAT.) EXAM OF THE CYCLIC STICK QUICK DISCONNECT LOCKING NUT REVEALED IT WAS HELD IN PLACE ON THE CONNECTOR BY 1 THREAD. PROPERLY INSTALLED, THE LOCKING NUT TIGHTENS DOWN OVER 6 THREADS ON THE CONNECTOR. WHEN BACKED OUT TO 1 THREAD, MOVEMENT OF THE CYCLIC WILL NOT NOT PRODUCE A CORRESPONDING CHANGE IN THE LATERAL CONTROL HYDRAULIC SERVOS. THE CYCLIC WAS LAST REMOVED APRX 80 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT DURING MAINTENANCE. ON 7/17/84, BELL ISSUED OPERATIONS SAFETY NOTICE WHICH IN PART READ, 'FLIGHT CREWS ARE CAUTIONED TO ASSURE QUICK REMOVAL FLIGHT CONTROLS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED PRIOR TO OPERATING THE HELICOPTER.' PRIOR TO THIS NOTICE, NO REQUIREMENTS EXISTED TO DO SO.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.