COALVILLE, UT, USA
N16803
BELL 206B-III
THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED WITH 'BEAR PAWS'. SNOWSHOE-LIKE DEVICES ON THE SKIDS TO DISTRIBUTE WEIGHT ON SOFT SURFACES. THE BEAR PAWS ON THIS ACFT ROTATED FREELY AROUND THE SKIDS, NOT TIGHTENED DOWN AS PER DESIGN SPEC. ALSO, BEAR PAWS ARE NOT APPROVED FOR AMERICAN ACFT BY THE FAA. THIS HELICOPTER LANDED ON WHAT THE PILOT THOUGHT WAS A FIRM LANDING SURFACE BUT WAS ACTUALLY 5 FT OF SNOW COVERED WITH A THIN CRUST OF ICE. A PASSENGER THAT THE PILOT HAD DEBOARDED EARLIER ABOUT 900 FT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, STATED THAT HE SAW THE HELICOPTER ROLL OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE APRX 5 MINS AFTER HE LEFT THE AIRCRAFT. THIS INDIVIDUAL STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT SHUT DOWN THE HELICOPTER AFTER HE WAS LEFT OFF. DURING THE ROLLOVER, ONE BLADE OF THE ROTOR SLICED THROUGH THE COCKPIT IT DEPARTED THE ACFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
