Bell B-214-B-1 accident near Bullard, Georgia, March 3, 1986
On March 3, 1986 at about 3:22 pm local time, a Bell B-214-B-1 (helicopter), registered N114RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullard, Georgia. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1986 · about 3:22 pm local time
- Place
- Bullard, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell B-214-B-1
- Registration
- N114RM · registry record · serial 28021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A HELICOPTER INVOLVED IN A LOGGING OPERATION WAS IN PROCESS OF LIFTING A LOG WHEN CREW REPORTED A 'LOUD EXPLOSION' AND A LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND A SMALL ENGINE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE 1ST STAGE TURBINE DISC HAD SEPARATED AND WAS UNCONTAINED. DEBRIS HAD DAMAGED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND COWLING DURING ITS DEPARTURE FROM THE HELICOPTER. EVIDENCE OF A THREAD LURE WAS REPORTED ON THE MALE AND FEMALE THREADS FOR THE DISC BOLTS. THIS IS THE SECOND REPORTED IGT TURBINE DISC FAILURE ON THIS ENGINE, BOTH WERE BEING OPERATED BY THIS COMPANY AT THE 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,656 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 13,402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,709 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 27, 1986; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T5508D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters,Inc
The flight
- Departed from: Bullard GA at 3:11 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from WRB, 5 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL86FA084.