Bell 206L3 accident near Bayfield, Colorado, September 3, 1992
On September 3, 1992, a Bell 206L3 (helicopter), registered N911NM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bayfield, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PROPERLY USE THE HELICOPTER'S PERFORMANCE DATA. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE TERRAIN AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1992
- Place
- Bayfield, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L3 · all 206L3s on the register
- Registration
- N911NM · registry record · serial 51569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN ROUGH, ROCKY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING A MEDIVAC FLIGHT, AT A PRESSURE ALTITUDE OF 9,830 FT, LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS OCCURRED, AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED RAPIDLY AND CRASHED ONTO ROCKS. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING IN A PERFORMANCE LIMITED PORTION OF THE HOVER PERFORMANCE CHART AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,671 hours in all; 434 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 5,158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 158 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 5, 1992; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C-30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Methods Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: Farmington NM at 11:33 pm
- Destination: Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.