Bell 206 accident near Bountiful, Utah, February 5, 2014
On February 5, 2014 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1984 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N3211N, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Bountiful, Utah. It was an instructional flight 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 pilots' inaccurate assessment of the snow depth on the landing zone, which resulted in a landing on snow deeper than that for which the helicopter was equipped and led to dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 2014 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bountiful, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B, built 1984 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N3211N · registry record · serial 3808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter-rated private pilot was receiving instruction to obtain his commercial helicopter certificate. He and the flight instructor were practicing landings and takeoffs at a snow-covered remote landing zone (LZ) in mountainous terrain. They completed one successful landing and takeoff, and, after a second uneventful landing, the helicopter sat on the snow for a few minutes before the instructor initiated the next takeoff. Just after engine power application, the right forward skid sank into the snow, and the instructor was unable to prevent the ensuing dynamic rollover. The helicopter came to rest on its right side on top of the snow. The area located just forward and to the right of the helicopter was covered with snow less than 6 inches thick, and grass protruded through the snow, which likely led the pilots to assume that this was a representative depth for the snow on the entire LZ. However, although the snow surface was essentially level, the terrain underlying the snow was not level, and the helicopter had landed on snow that was about 2 ft deep. The instructor was not qualified by the school to conduct operations on deep snow, and the helicopter was not equipped to land on snow deeper than about 6 inches. The pilots did not report any pre-existing mechanical deficiencies or failures, and examination of the helicopter did not reveal evidence of any pre-existing mechanical deficiencies.
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
What happened, in order
- Dynamic rollover during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 27, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 244 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,087 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 4, 2014; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250 C20B (turboshaft); 13,607 hours total
- Operator: Upper Limit Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 8:27 pm
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SLC, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3211N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.