Bell 206 N2277T

Summary

On 24 February 1995 at about 17:30 local time, a Bell 206 registered N2277T, operated by Carisch, Mike G., was involved in an accident near Dillon, Montana, 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

24 February 1995 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Dillon, Montana, United States

Coordinates

44.7802, -112.6205

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N2277T

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Carisch, Mike G.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95GA062

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A LANDING SITE THAT WAS NOT SUITABLE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER. FACTORS INCLUDE TERRAIN COVERED WITH SOFT SNOW.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT LANDED AT A REMOTE SNOW-SURVEY SITE, AND THEN MOVED THE CYCLIC IN A CIRCLE TO TEST WHETHER THE SNOW WOULD SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER. SENSING THAT THE SNOW WAS FIRM ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE HELICOPTER'S WEIGHT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. AFTER HE HAD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND THE ROTOR WAS DECELERATING, ONE OF THE SNOWPAD-EQUIPPED SKIDS BROKE THROUGH THE SNOW. AS THE SKID BROKE THROUGH THE SNOW, THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE SNOW AND THEN CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.