Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On January 20, 1994, at approximately 1340 mountain standard time, N3211K, a Bell 206L-3, impacted terrain at the top of 14,110 foot Pikes Peak, near Cascade, Colorado. The pilot and a pilot rated passenger were not injured, but the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company VFR flight plan had been filed for the ferry flight.

While en route from Broomfield to Pueblo, Colorado, the pilot decided to make a low pass over Pikes Peak to allow his passenger to take some photographs and for him to check the wind conditions. He first made a left 360 degree circular pass, then set up a low approach into the wind and began a slow descent. He said at an altitude of about 40 and 60 feet above the terrain, he "lost control in the yaw axis only," and the helicopter made two or three rotations before striking the ground and rolling over. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT'S YAW PERFORMANCE BEING EXCEEDED. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.