Accident Overview
On the evening of the accident, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration N2752Y, crashed in hilly terrain while on a flight to obtain video footage of an aircraft accident. The pilot received warnings from fixed-base operator (FBO) personnel about adverse weather conditions before departure. Another pilot who had just landed also tried to persuade the pilot not to fly.
Flight Details
The helicopter departed with a special VFR clearance. Radar advisories were provided until terrain prevented further radar tracking. Witnesses along a highway observed the aircraft with its landing light on in snow and fog. One witness followed the aircraft for approximately 20 minutes and estimated its altitude to be 50 to 100 feet above ground level and its speed to be 40 mph. Some motorists reported ice on their windshields.
Wreckage Discovery
The wreckage was found the next morning near the top and on the far side of a knoll that the helicopter had crossed. The aircraft had crashed in a steep right bank.
Investigation Findings
Toxicological testing revealed the pilot's blood alcohol level was 0.093%. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found. Weather data from the 2145 MST observation at Arapahoe County Airport, located 33 miles north of the accident site, was referenced in the investigation.