Brantley B-2B accident near Athens, West Virginia, May 9, 1982
On May 9, 1982 at about 2:56 pm local time, a Brantley B-2B (helicopter), registered N2255U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Athens, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 9, 1982 · about 2:56 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, West Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantley B-2B
- Registration
- N2255U · no longer on the register · serial 415
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN A WOODED, ROCKY AREA WHILE THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE FROM THE WELCH HOSPITAL TO HIS RESIDENCE IN ATHENS, WV. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANK BLADDER HAD RUPTURED, BUT NO ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTED. LATER, THE ENGINE WAS OPERATIONALLY CHECKED. DURING THE FIRST ENGINE RUN, THE PRIMER LINE TO THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY IMPACT. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN REFUELED ON 5/9/82 WITH 20.5 GALLONS OF FUEL. IT HAD BEEN FLOWN AN ESTIMATED 1.3 HRS SINCE THAT TIME.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 227 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,128 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Welch WV at 9:36 am
- Destination: Tahoe City CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 131°F (55°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.