Bell 206L3 N911NM
3 September 1992 · Bayfield, Colorado, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 3 September 1992 at about 00:45 local time, a Bell 206L3 registered N911NM, operated by Air Methods Corporation, was involved in an accident near Bayfield, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bayfield, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.2303, -107.5902
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L3
- Registration
- N911NM
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Air Methods Corporation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Farmington → Durango
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN92FA089
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PROPERLY USE THE HELICOPTER'S PERFORMANCE DATA. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE TERRAIN AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN ROUGH, ROCKY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING A MEDIVAC FLIGHT, AT A PRESSURE ALTITUDE OF 9,830 FT, LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS OCCURRED, AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED RAPIDLY AND CRASHED ONTO ROCKS. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING IN A PERFORMANCE LIMITED PORTION OF THE HOVER PERFORMANCE CHART AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206L3 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 1991 | Bell 206L3 | Opa-Locka, Florida, United States | Metro Dade Police Dept. | Unknown | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Bell 206L3 | Libby, Montana, United States | Felt Field Aviation | Unknown | - |
| 15 Jan 1994 | Bell 206L3 | Arcadia, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 May 1997 | Bell 206L3 | Boise, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 2000 | Bell 206L3 | Salt Marsh | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 May 2002 | Bell 206L3 | Coca, Ecuador | Icaro S.a. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr 1992 | Cessna 310-L | Hugo, Colorado, United States | Bell, Anthony H. | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1992 | Boeing 757-222 | Denver, Colorado, United States | United Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Jul 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Lamar, Colorado, United States | Lyddon Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1992 | Embraer EMB-120 RT | Denver, Colorado, United States | Mesa Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1992 | Cessna 152 | Falcon, Colorado, United States | Patrick Clayton | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1992 | Cessna 172P | Englewood, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers, Inc. | No injuries | - |