Bell UH-1H N4085L

Summary

On 6 September 1999 at about 14:30 local time, a Bell UH-1H registered N4085L was involved in an accident near Silverton, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 1999 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Silverton, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.8198, -107.6402

Aircraft

Bell UH-1H

Registration

N4085L

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN99LA160

1 person had minor injuries.

The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said this was his first trip of the morning, and he was transporting approximately 300 pounds of construction materials. He said that the load was on the ground and he was hovering while ground personnel disconnected the cargo net. He said that one of the ground team radioed him and reported that 'fire and smoke was coming from your tail pipe.' The pilot said that he noticed that the rotor rpm warning light was on, and the engine out lights and horns had been activated. He lowered the collective and autorotated to the ground, but the main rotors impacted terrain. The aircraft records indicate that the engine came from a civilian overhaul facility, and was installed in N4085L approximately 21 hours prior to the accident. The Colorado Department of Minerals and Mines reported the mine entrance elevation was 11,500 feet. The density altitude was calculated to be 13,000 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.