Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Dillon, Colorado 80435
Sunday, April 29, 1984 15:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHEN THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM A MOUNTAINOUS SKI AREA, LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WAS FALLING & THE WINDS WERE COMING UP THE VALLEY AT 5 TO 10 KTS. DURING THE FLT, HE ENCOUNTERED AN ESTIMATED 35 KT UPSLOPE WIND AS HE WAS PROCEEDING ON THE UPWIND SIDE OF A RIDGE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 12700 FT. WITH THE UPDRAFT, HE WAS ABLE TO REDUCE POWER. THE HORIZON WAS NOT VISIBLE BUT HE COULD SEE THE MOUNTAIN TO HIS LEFT REAR AREA. JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE ACFT WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 KTS AT 100 TO 150 FT AGL. THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS STILL IN AN UPDRAFT WITH REDUCED POWER, HE LOOKED BACK, NO MORE THAN 3 TO 5 SEC. AS HE LOOKED FORWARD AGAIN. HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHIFT WHICH PUT HIM IN A DOWNWIND, LOW POWER SITUATION. FEELING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT SPACE TO TURN DOWNHILL, HE TURNED UPHILL, ADDED POWER & FLARED. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON STEEP TERRAIN AT ABOUT 12500 FT. THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. IT IMPACTED AGAIN AFTER DROPPING 15 TO 25 FT & CAME TO REST. THE T/R & T/R GEAR BOX SEPARATED DURING THE SEQUENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/29/1984
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City NEAR DILLON
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80435
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 40
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 492
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24199
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N608RM
NTSB Number DEN84LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model 316B
Aircraft Series Identifier 316B
Aircraft Serial Number 1166
Certified Max Gross Weight 4960
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Apr 19 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3455
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ST. ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City DENVER
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City DILLON
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DEN
Destination City DENVER
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight --