Bell 206B accident near Stony River, Alaska, April 6, 1983
On April 6, 1983 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N376KA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stony River, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1983 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Stony River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N376KA · no longer on the register · serial 1952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION WITH A 100 FT LONG LINE. THE LONG LINE HAD 4 REMOTE HOOKS, OF WHICH, 3 HAD CABLE BAGS ATTACHED. WHILE WAITING FOR THE 4TH BAG TO BE FILLED, HE DECIDED TO LAND IN AN OPEN AREA. HE SET THE EXTERNAL LOAD DOWN & LAID THE LONG LINE OUT OVER THE GROUND, 'LANDING THE HELICOPTER WHEN THE LONG LINE WAS NEARLY EXTENDED AWAY FROM THE LOAD.' WHEN THE 4TH BAG WAS READY TO BE SLUNG OUT, HE LIFTED OFF IN WINDS THAT WERE GUSTING TO 15 KTS. AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 40 FT, HE MADE A LEFT, RUDDER TURN (X-WIND) TO BETTER OBSERVE HIS LONG LINE. HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS DRIFTING DOWNWIND AT ABOUT THE TIME HE THOUGHT HE DETECTED A POWER SURGE. HE DIRECTED HIS ATTENTION TO THE ENG INSTRUMENTS. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE WAS MADE, BUT NO MECHANCIAL PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,776 hours in all; 1,957 in this make and model; 234 in the last 90 days; 5,516 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,494 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 5, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.