Bell B-206-1 accident near Youngstown, Ohio, April 22, 1987
On April 22, 1987 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Bell B-206-1 (helicopter), registered N79RR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Youngstown, Ohio. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- April 22, 1987 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Youngstown, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell B-206-1
- Registration
- N79RR · no longer on the register · serial 45371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HOVERING FROM THE WASH RACK, THE HELICOPTER BACKED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME FOLLOWING THE COLLISION. THERE WERE NO POSTIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES.
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: 3,423 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,637 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1987; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C-28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GOLD Youngstown OH at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:07 pm from YNG, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.