Bell BH-206B N39122
20 June 1999 · Telluride, Colorado, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 20 June 1999 at about 19:12 local time, a Bell BH-206B registered N39122, operated by Walter Duraur, was involved in an accident near Telluride, Colorado, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. 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 19:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Telluride, Colorado, United States
- Nearest airport
- Telluride Regional (TEX)
- Coordinates
- 37.9392, -107.9009
- Aircraft
- Bell BH-206B
- Registration
- N39122
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Walter Duraur
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN99LA105
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
Settling with power and a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Factors were an improperly planned approach by the pilot in command, high density altitude, and inadequate supervision by the safety pilot.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter was returning from a sight-seeing flight with two pilots and two passengers aboard. During approach to land, at 100 to 150 feet above ground level, at a high gross weight, high-density altitude, and low wind condition, the pilot-in-command allowed the helicopter to slow and enter a high sink rate. In attempting to recover from the sink rate, loss of tail rotor effectiveness occurred and the helicopter started to spin. The safety pilot took control and stopped the spin, but the helicopter landed hard.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell BH-206B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 1997 | Bell BH-206B | Dillingham, Alaska, United States | Evergreen Helicopters Alaska | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Aug 1993 | Bell BH-206B | Kantishna, Alaska, United States | US Dept of Interior | Unknown | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 1999 | Weatherly 201-C | Two Buttes, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 1999 | Air Tractor AT-402A | Mead, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 1999 | Robinson R22 BETA | Englewood, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1999 | Cameron V-77 | Elbert, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Nov 1999 | Beechcraft A60 | Boulder, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1999 | Piper PA-32-260 | Aspen, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |