Bell 206B accident near Custer, SD
On August 10, 1999, a Bell 206B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Custer, SD. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 10, 1999
- Place
- Custer, SD
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.760°N, 103.601°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19426
Official records · CHI99FA285
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 10, 1999, at 1730 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206B, N67JJ, operated by Rapid Helicopters Incorporated, was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain while maneuvering over Custer State Park, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; two of the passengers sustained serious injuries, and the remaining passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated, at approximately 1715, from a private heliport located approximately 6 miles southwest of the accident site. A police report documented the interview of two of the passengers. The report states the following: "They stated the pilot had been flying for approximately 7 hours today while they were in the air. He made a sweep over Mt. Rushmore and turned the helicopter on it's side to get a better view of the sights. They said he did this at the Needles Eye to get another view. [One of the passengers] stated the Helicopter made the same maneuver as at Mt. Rushmore but then felt as if the helicopter went into a power slide. [The passenger] also stated the pilot went too far in trying to make the maneuver. The helicopter hit the trees and rocks and then crashed. [The other passenger] stated the helicopter started vibrating real bad before the crash. He stated the vibrating occurred during the sweeping maneuver..." A copy of a video tape taken by a passenger during the accident flight along with a map of the accident area is in
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadvertent settling with power.
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Browse: South Dakota · 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.
