Bell 206L-3 accident near Denver, Colorado, April 18, 1987
On April 18, 1987 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N38886, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Stapleton Int'L Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 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
- April 18, 1987 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Stapleton Int'L Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N38886 · no longer on the register · serial 51023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN ATP PLT WAS CONDUCTING A SIGHT SEEING FLT OVER DENVER. THE PLT HAD 9 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THIS MODEL HELICOPTER, 6 HOURS AS PIC. A HOVERING TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED TO THE NORTH WITH LEFT TURN TO THE WEST AFTER TAKEOFF. CURRENT WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 220 DEGREES AT 17 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 27 KNOTS. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 7,600 FEET. THE PLT LANDED ON THE TAXIWAY FROM 25 TO 30 FEET ALTITUDE, WITH LOW ROTOR RPM WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND DAMAGE TO THE SKIDS AND THE LOWER CABIN AREA. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED BY AN A & P MECHANIC. NO ENGINE RUN WAS POSSIBLE BUT A COMPLETE PNEUMATIC, FUEL SYSTEM AND COMPRESSOR INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AND NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS NOTED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,624 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5,436 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1986; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 17 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from DEN, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.