Bell BH-206B accident near Telluride, Colorado, June 20, 1999
On June 20, 1999 at about 7:12 pm local time, a Bell BH-206B (helicopter), registered N39122, was substantially damaged in an accident near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Settling with power and a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Factors were an improperly planned approach by the pilot in command, high density altitude, and inadequate supervision by the safety pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1999 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell BH-206B
- Registration
- N39122 · no longer on the register · serial 3122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was returning from a sight-seeing flight with two pilots and two passengers aboard. During approach to land, at 100 to 150 feet above ground level, at a high gross weight, high-density altitude, and low wind condition, the pilot-in-command allowed the helicopter to slow and enter a high sink rate. In attempting to recover from the sink rate, loss of tail rotor effectiveness occurred and the helicopter started to spin. The safety pilot took control and stopped the spin, but the helicopter landed hard.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 670 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 490 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,962 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 15, 1999; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,870 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:12 pm from TEX, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.