Aviation Crash Map

Bell 206L N265SH

15 June 2006 · Vernal, Utah, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 15 June 2006 at about 23:15 local time, a Bell 206L registered N265SH was involved in an accident near Vernal, Utah, United States. 6 people were on board and 6 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 23:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Vernal, Utah, United States
Coordinates
39.4864, -109.1572
Aircraft
Bell 206L
Registration
N265SH
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Vernal → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
SEA06LA121

People

6 people had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
6 0 0 6 0

Probable cause

The loss of tail rotor effectiveness during an attempted precationary landing after a takeoff over uneven, sloping, brush-covered terrain. Factors include the pilot using the wrong performance chart while completing his preflight performance calculations, the uneven, sloping, brush-covered terrain, and a high density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to takeoff in conditions that resulted in a density altitude of over 10,000 feet, the pilot figured his takeoff/hover performance using the Hover Ceiling In Ground Effect chart, which indicated the helicopter could safely depart the landing zone (LZ). Because he was taking off over uneven, sloping, brush-covered terrain, he should have used the Hover Ceiling Out of Ground Effect chart, which indicated the helicopter did not have the performance to safely depart the LZ. After liftoff, the pilot started moving the aircraft forward, but it could not out-climb the up-sloping terrain, so he elected to make a precautionary landing on a nearby road. During the landing attempt, the helicopter's tail rotor lost its effectiveness, and the aircraft spun around once and descended into the terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 206 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
2 May 2006 Bell 206B
N342WC
Vinita, Oklahoma, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
4 Mar 2006 Bell 206B
N6BR
Naples, Florida, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
14 Mar 2006 Bell 206L-1
N370RL
Patterson, Louisiana, United States
no coordinates
- Fatal 2
6 Oct 2006 Bell 206-L4
N266AL
Abbeville, Louisiana, United States - No injuries -
3 Aug 2006 Bell 206L-1
N5746N
Busby, Montana, United States - No injuries -
11 Nov 2006 Bell 206B
N59571
Boulder City, Nevada, United States - No injuries -

All 1,732 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
6 Jun 2006 Piper PA-20
N7494K
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Craig T. Weaver No injuries -
2 Jan 2006 Beechcraft 35-A33
N1254Z
Heber City, Utah, United States - Fatal 1
9 Jun 2006 Lciv LANCAIR IV-P PROPJET
N95CE
Provo, Utah, United States - Fatal 3
30 Aug 2006 Cessna 182RG
N5464n
Fairfield, Utah, United States Civil Air Patrol No injuries -
16 Oct 2006 Robinson R22 BETA
N224VR
Monticello, Utah, United States - No injuries -
25 Jul 2006 Spectrum Aeronautical 33
N322LA
Spanish Fork, Utah, United States - Fatal 2

All 170,864 records in United States