Bell 206B accident near Dublin, Ohio, September 3, 1982
On September 3, 1982 at about 5:44 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N16969, was destroyed in an accident near Dublin, Ohio. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 3, 1982 · about 5:44 pm local time
- Place
- Dublin, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N16969 · no longer on the register · serial 2368
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FLIGHT OF 2 HELICOPTERS PROCEEDED WITHOUT INCIDENT FROM CUMBERLAND TO THE VICINITY OF DUBLIN, OH WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER THEY CIRCLED THE AREA TO DETERMINE THE DIRECTION AND THE LOCATION OF OBSTACLES, THE FIRST HELICOPTER LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE PILOT OF THE FIRST AIRCRAFT RADIOED THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE LIGHT CHOP CLOSE TO THE GROUND, BUT NOTHING OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE. THE SECOND HELICOPTER APPROACHED TO LAND ON A SOUTH SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING. AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL AND 100 YARDS FROM THE LANDING AREA, IT PITCHED UP AND BANKED TO THE RIGHT. AS THE BANK TO THE RIGHT CONTINUED, THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND IN NEAR VERTICAL (NOSE DOWN) ATTITUDE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, FLIGHT CONTROLS AND ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH.
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: 4,811 hours in all; 26 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,474 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cumberland OH at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.