Bell 214B-1 accident near Hobart Bay, Alaska, February 23, 1992
On February 23, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bell 214B-1 (helicopter), registered N814RM, was destroyed in an accident near Hobart Bay, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 6 people were killed and 5 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SEPARATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR AND 90 DEGREE GEARBOX DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES WHICH RESULTED IN THE EXTERNAL LOAD CABLE BECOMING ENTANGLED IN THE TAIL ROTOR. FACTORS WERE THE TURBULENT WEATHER AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hobart Bay, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed and 5 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 214B-1 · all 214B-1s on the register
- Registration
- N814RM · no longer on the register · serial 28067
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT IN COMMAND HAD A MECHANIC ATTACH A 30 FOOT CHOKER CABLE TO THE EXTERNAL CARGO HOOK SO THAT WHEN HE CAME TO A HOVER TO PICK UP PASSENGERS, THE CABLE WOULD TOUCH THE GROUND AND DISSIPATE THE STATIC ELECTRICITY. AFTER PICKING UP THE LAST TIMBER CUTTERS, EN ROUTE TO BASE CAMP, THE HELICOPTER FLEW THROUGH TURBULENCE AND A PASSENGER IN THE CABIN YELLED. THE PILOT TURNED TO LOOK AT THE PASSENGER, LOOKED FORWARD, HEARD A BANG AND EXPERIENCED A YAW. THE TAIL ROTOR AND 90 DEGREE GEARBOX SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER AND HE AUTOROTATED INTO TALL TREES. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION SHOWED THE MARKS IN THE TAILROTOR BLADE MATCHED THE SOCKET SHAPE AT THE END OF THE CABLE.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,335 hours in all; 7,811 in this make and model; 243 in the last 90 days; 172 in the last 30 days; 16,335 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,675 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 20, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-5508D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Field Site AK at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 5 | 4 |
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.