Bell 206B-III accident near Mancos, Colorado, November 26, 1984
On November 26, 1984 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B-III (helicopter), registered N5018L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mancos, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1984 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mancos, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-III · all 206B-IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N5018L · no longer on the register · serial 2648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,782 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1984; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Detr. Diesel 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.