Bell 206B3 N2751U

Summary

On 23 August 2004 at about 21:05 local time, a Bell 206B3 registered N2751U was involved in an accident near Atlantic City, Wyoming, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 2 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

23 August 2004 at 21:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic City, Wyoming, United States

Coordinates

42.4397, -108.6436

Aircraft

Bell 206B3

Registration

N2751U

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlantic City → Atlantic City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04LA130

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control, improper in-flight planning and decision making, and failure to compensate for wind conditions, resulting in collision with terrain. Contributing factors were the intentional low-level maneuver, and the wind shear conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was engaged in a filming operation. He had completed a "high groundspeed" pass and was slowing to approximately "20 mph" into the wind. At approximately 75 feet above the ground, and an airspeed of approximately 60 knots, the pilot continued to maneuver the helicopter around the leeward side of a small hill. During the maneuver, the helicopter encountered a sudden wind shear and a "15 to 20 knot tailwind." The pilot stated that the helicopter lost all response to control inputs, and he was unable to maintain altitude. The helicopter descended, struck the terrain and rolled over. The impact crushed the forward fuselage, separated the main rotor assembly, and buckled the tail boom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.