Bell 206L-3 N3893U

Summary

On 18 February 1984 at about 20:30 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N3893U was involved in an accident near Lake City, Colorado, United States. 7 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

18 February 1984 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake City, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.0692, -107.3008

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N3893U

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN84LA093

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF IN MARGINAL VMC CONDITIONS AT CLOSE TO CONDITIONS REQUIRING MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FOR TAKEOFF. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO HOVER AT 90 PERCENT RPM WAITING HE SAID 'FOR A BREEZE'. THE HOVER STIRRED UP SNOW CAUSING A WHITEOUT AND LOSS OF VISUAL CUES. WHEN THE ACFT WAS SETTLING THE PLT APPLIED 100 PERCENT TO CHECK THE DESCENT BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND. AN ARTICLE IN FEB 1984 ISSUE OF FLYING SAFETY HAD SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS TYPE OPERATION WHICH INCLUDES 'APPLY SUFFICIENT TORQUE FOR A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.