Bell 206L accident near Brownstone, Michigan, November 6, 1985
On November 6, 1985 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Bell 206L (helicopter), registered N430MB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownstone, Michigan. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 6, 1985 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Brownstone, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- N430MB · registry record · serial 45039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS BACKYARD AFTER DISCHARCHING TWO PASSENGERS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING CYCLIC FEEDBACK AS HE ATTEMPTED TO PICK THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A HOVER. THE FEEDBACK BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED FROM WET SLOPING TERRAIN ON A DARK NIGHT WITHOUT THE USE OF A LANDING LIGHT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,419 hours in all; 620 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 3,069 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,473 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 9, 1985; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C2OB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fritz Enterprises, INC.
The flight
- Destination: 1D2 Plymouth MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:10 pm
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.
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.