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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 26, 1984 · Bell 206B-III · N5018L

Mancos, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 26, 1984
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Mancos, CO
Aircraft
Bell 206B-III
Tail Number
N5018L
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN85LA033

THE ACFT SETTLED DURING AN EMER LNDG AFTER THE PLT SAID THE ENGINE FAILED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT RECEIVED MINOR MAINTENANCE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, CONSISTING OF CHANGING THE PITCH CHAIN LINKS ON THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THEPLT MADE A WRITTEN STATEMENT AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH WAS STATED, 'THE ACFT WAS RUNNING APRX 15 MIN BEFORE TAKEOFF WITH THE ANTI-ICE OPERATING. I PULLED INTO A HOVER APRX 6-7 FT AGL, SLOWLY, TO INSURE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ATTACHED TOTHE SKIDS. I THEN MOVED SIDEWAYS FROM THE LANDING ZONE TO CLEAR THE AREA OF BLOWING SNOW FROM THE ACFT. I TURNED INTO THE WIND & STARTED TO APPLY POWER TO CLIMB OUT OVER ANOTHER FENCE AT ABOUT 10-15 AGL. AT APRX 10-15 MPH THE ENG OUT LIGHT & HORN SOUNDED & I APPLIED RT TORQUE PEDAL TO CORRECT FOR YAW. WE STARTED TO SETTLE TO THE GROUND & I APPLIED COLLECTIVE TO STOP THE DESCENT & LANDED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF A DITCHING.' THE ROTOR OR RPM DECAYED & THE ACFT ROCKED NOSE TO TAIL & THE MAIN BLADES HIT THE TAIL BOOM. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENG RAN NORMALLY AT ALL POWER SETTINGS.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT SETTLED DURING AN EMER LNDG AFTER THE PLT SAID THE ENGINE FAILED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT RECEIVED MINOR MAINTENANCE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, CONSISTING OF CHANGING THE PITCH CHAIN LINKS ON THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THEPLT MADE A WRITTEN STATEMENT AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH WAS STATED, 'THE ACFT WAS RUNNING APRX 15 MIN BEFORE TAKEOFF WITH THE ANTI-ICE OPERATING. I PULLED INTO A HOVER APRX 6-7 FT AGL, SLOWLY, TO INSURE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ATTACHED TOTHE SKIDS. I THEN MOVED SIDEWAYS FROM THE LANDING ZONE TO CLEAR THE AREA OF BLOWING SNOW FROM THE ACFT. I TURNED INTO THE WIND & STARTED TO APPLY POWER TO CLIMB OUT OVER ANOTHER FENCE AT ABOUT 10-15 AGL. AT APRX 10-15 MPH THE ENG OUT LIGHT & HORN SOUNDED & I APPLIED RT TORQUE PEDAL TO CORRECT FOR YAW. WE STARTED TO SETTLE TO THE GROUND & I APPLIED COLLECTIVE TO STOP THE DESCENT & LANDED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF A DITCHING.' THE ROTOR OR RPM DECAYED & THE ACFT ROCKED NOSE TO TAIL & THE MAIN BLADES HIT THE TAIL BOOM. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENG RAN NORMALLY AT ALL POWER SETTINGS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206B-III
Tail NumberN5018L
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsDetr. Diesel · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data