Bell 205A-1 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, June 12, 1984
On June 12, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 205A-1 (helicopter), registered N58116, was substantially damaged in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- June 12, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 205A-1 · all 205A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N58116 · no longer on the register · serial 30133
- 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 HAD JUST PICKED UP AN EXTERNAL 'SLING' LOAD OF 2700 LBS OF BACK-FILL IN A CEMENT BUCKET. AT 900 FT AGL THE ACFT STARTED A VERTICAL VIBRATION. AS COLLECTIVE WAS BOTTOMED A LARGE PIECE OF ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEPARATED. THE PLT SAID HE JETTISONED THE LOAD AND THE 100 FT LINE AND LANDED THE ACFT IN A MOUNTAIN SIDE CLEARING. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION A PORTION OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE ABOUT 32 INCHES LONG WAS FOUND MISSING. THIS FAILURE STARTED WITH A CRACK ON THE BLADE. WHILE ON THE GROUND THE DROOPING OF THE BLADE WOULD TEND TO CLOSE AND MASK THE CRACK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BLADE WHERE IT WOULD MORE READILY HAVE BEEN SEEN. A GENERAL AVIATION AIRWORTHINESS ALERT STATED THAT FRACTURES ON HELICOPTER BLADES OCCUR AT LOCATIONS WHERE BLADE DAMAGE EXISTED. DAMAGE RANGING FROM SCRATCHES, DENTS, NICKS OR CORROSION PITS BECAME A POTENTIAL POINT FOR STRESS TO CONCENTRATE AND PROPAGATE INTO CRACKS LEADING TO BLADE FAILURE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,430 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 9,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,388 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 30, 1984; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-13 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gold Creek AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.