Bell 206B accident near Nr. Mcadams, Mississippi, October 20, 1983
On October 20, 1983 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N2183P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nr. Mcadams, Mississippi. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- October 20, 1983 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Nr. Mcadams, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2183P · registry record · serial 3470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON AN AERIAL RIGHT-OF-WAY-BURNING FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DUE TO THE TERRAIN & OBSTACLES, HIS ATTENTION WAS TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE BURNING OPERATION. AFTER COMPLETING THE BURNING OPERATION FOR THAT FLT, HE CHECKED THE ACFT FUEL QUANTITY & NOTED AN INDICATION OF 2 TO 3 GAL REMAINING. THE PLT IMMEDIATELY HEADED TOWARD THE LANDING AREA. APRX 1/4 MI FROM THE LANDING SITE, THE FUEL PUMP, ENG OUT & LOW RPM CAUTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE ENG FLAMED OUT. SINCE THE HELICOPTER WAS STILL OVER TREES, COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS HELD UNTIL THEY WERE CLEARED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RPM TO CUSHION THE LANDING & A HARD LANDING OCCURRED. THE FUEL STRAINER WAS CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT & WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,254 hours in all; 234 in this make and model; 176 in the last 90 days; 5,035 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,247 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 6, 1983; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.
Other NTSB records under N2183P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.