Bell 212 N91AL

Summary

On 18 June 1996 at about 21:48 local time, a Bell 212 registered N91AL was involved in an accident near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 June 1996 at 21:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

37.2408, -107.0297

Aircraft

Bell 212

Registration

N91AL

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96TA261

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to comply with performance data for hover out of ground effect. A factor was not attaining load jettison.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During support of forest fire fighting operations, the helicopter was conducting water drops and was on it's fifth drop of the flight. While proceeding upslope and down wind, at near maximum gross weight for hover out of ground effect, the helicopter began to settle. The pilot attempted to jettison the water load and reverse course. Jettisoning was unsuccessful and the helicopter settled into trees in the fire zone. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage from impact and post impact fire. During transport to storage by another helicopter, using a long line, the accident aircraft was dropped from approximately 700 feet, resulting in total destruction of the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.