Bell 206L-3 accident near Mimbres, NM
On July 12, 1994, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Mimbres, NM. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 12, 1994
- Place
- Mimbres, NM
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.039°N, 107.919°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01735
Official records · FTW94GA232
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 12, 1994, at 1505 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N3178B, was destroyed while landing near Mimbres, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and two fire fighters were fatally injured, while one fire fighter sustained serious injuries, and another one received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the public use flight. The aircraft was owned by Briles Wing and Helicopter of Van Nuys, California, and being operated by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. According to the operator, the helicopter was dispatched from the Mimbres Heliport at 1447 to transport four fire fighters to a newly reported forest fire approximately 13 miles northeast of the base camp heliport. According to survivors, upon arrival in the area of the fire, the pilot circled the fire and the intended landing point in both directions. The selected landing area was a rocky pinnacle on a ridge line approximately 1/2 mile southeast of the fire, at an elevation of 9,520 feet. Density altitude at the point of intended landing was 13,200 feet. The survivors reported that the approach was made to the west northwest over the northeast facing slope. Both survivors concluded that the winds were "blowing upslope on the tail of the helicopter," but everything appeared normal with the exception of the nose of the helicopter, which appeared higher than normal during the final phase of the approach. They added that the pilot attempted to bring the helicopter to a hover at about 20 feet above the landing area. They further stated that the
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO HOVER OUT OF GROUND EFFECT UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS WHILE EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WEIGHT FOR THAT MANEUVER. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE TAILWIND.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Jun 25, 1992
- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
