Bell 206 N8533F

Summary

On 3 November 2010 at about 20:59 local time, a Bell 206 registered N8533F, operated by Mile High Helicopter Company, was involved in an accident near Meeker, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 November 2010 at 20:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Meeker, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.1886, -107.9067

Aircraft

Bell 206

Registration

N8533F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Mile High Helicopter Company

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Junction → Meeker

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11FA053

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from electrical power lines during the low-altitude flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot was conducting a low-altitude pipeline patrol in a valley in a remote mountainous area. Two witnesses observed the helicopter flying toward them at a low altitude when the helicopter struck the wires of a three-phase electrical distribution line that was suspended 95 feet above the valley. The main rotor system separated from the helicopter in flight and came to rest about 200 feet from the main wreckage. The pilot stated that he never saw the wires, but that as he felt the impact, he knew immediately that he had struck wires. The on-scene investigation found no preimpact anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.