NTSB Factual Report

On May 8, 2003, approximately 1715 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206-L4, N70TV, registered to and operated by Helicopters, Inc., of Cahokia, Illinois, and doing business as KMGH-TV, Denver Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a simulated engine failure in Aurora, Colorado. The airline transport pilot certificated check airman received minor injuries, and the commercial certificated pilot-in-command and a mechanic-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Englewood, Colorado, approximately 1645.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot-in-command (PIC), the helicopter was returning to Centennial Airport, Englewood, after the crew had filmed a news story. The PIC was allowing the check pilot (CP) to fly the helicopter. The PIC said he "bumped the throttle" to simulate a power loss. The CP turned into the wind and slowed to 60 knots. The PIC consulted the CP and confirmed the landing location and recovery procedures (i.e., rotor rpm in the green arc, full throttle at 200 feet agl). The CP flared the helicopter 75 feet above the ground but didn't apply power until they were 20 feet above the ground. Rotor speed decayed, and the helicopter struck the ground, bounced, spun 180 degrees, and rolled over on its left side. The main rotor blades severed the tail boom.

According to the accident report submitted by the CP, the PIC initiated a forced landing. He wrote, "I entered the [autorotation] and turned into the wind. During the power recovery, the engine did not respond in a timely manner and ground contact was the result."

An FAA inspector went to the scene and interviewed the crew. According to the inspector's report, the CP did not have recent helicopter experience involving operations above 5,000 feet. Due to a lack of prior planning between the two pilots, "the [CP] assumed that the PIC was going to reapply the throttle for a power recovery. At the same time, the [PIC] assumed that the [CP] was going to apply power [to recover]. The result of this lack of CRM (cockpit resource management) was that the power was applied at a point where the descent rate could not be arrested..."

At the time of the accident, the helicopter was carrying 400 pounds of fuel, television cameras and other equipment, and a cameraman. The density altitude was computed to be 7,202 feet msl.

NTSB Probable Cause

inadequate infligt planning/decision by the flight crew and the check pilot's failure to initiate remedial action in a timely manner. Contributing factors were the pilot-in-command's inadequate supervision of the check pilot, the check pilot's lack of recency of high altitude experience, and the high density altitude.