Bell 206L-3 N3211K

Summary

On 20 January 1994 at about 20:40 local time, a Bell 206L-3 registered N3211K, operated by Puget Sound Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Cascade, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 January 1994 at 20:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Cascade, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.8994, -104.9701

Aircraft

Bell 206L-3

Registration

N3211K

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Puget Sound Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Broomfield → Pueblo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW94LA071

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT'S YAW PERFORMANCE BEING EXCEEDED. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT MADE A LOW PASS OVER PIKES PEAK (14,110 FEET MSL) TO ALLOW HIS PASSENGER TO TAKE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS AND FOR HIM TO CHECK THE WIND CONDITIONS. HE FIRST MADE A LEFT 360 DEGREE CIRCULAR PASS, THEN SET UP A LOW APPROACH INTO THE WIND AND BEGAN A SLOW DESCENT. THE PILOT SAID THAT AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 40 TO 60 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN, HE 'LOST CONTROL IN THE YAW AXIS ONLY,' AND THE HELICOPTER MADE TWO OR THREE ROTATIONS BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND AND ROLLING OVER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.