Bell 206B accident near Pinson, Alabama, December 2, 1988
On December 2, 1988 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N3TV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pinson, Alabama (Gilmer airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- December 2, 1988 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pinson, Alabama · Gilmer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3TV · registry record · serial 206B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO FAA INSPECTORS WERE CONDUCTING CURRENCY TRAINING WHEN THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD DURING A PRACTICE POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT HAD DELAYED IN APPLYING POWER AND COLLECTIVE PITCH. UPON CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, ALL ENGINE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED NORMAL OPERATION AND THE ENGINE RPM INDICATED IDLE POWER. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM. AFTER THE TOUCHDOWN, AN INSPECTION FAILED TO DISCLOSED ANY DAMAGE, BUT WHEN THE FLIGHT RETURNED TO BIRMINGHAM SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED IN THE RIGHT REAR SKID AREA.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,644 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3,127 as pilot in command; 1,209 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,535 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 6, 1988; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rotor Wing INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Birmingham AL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Pinson AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from BHM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.