Bell 206B accident near Martinsville, Indiana, February 16, 1988
On February 16, 1988 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N21197, was substantially damaged in an accident near Martinsville, Indiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- February 16, 1988 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Martinsville, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N21197 · registry record · serial 3455
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENGAGED IN INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DOING ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHY, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A WIRE STRIKE. THE WIRE WOUND AROUND THE MAIN ROTOR AND PULLED THE HELICOPTER TO THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED NO REPORTED INJURIES.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,111 hours in all; 2,705 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 21, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Roto-Whirl, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: IND Indianapolis IN at 1:00 pm
- Destination: IND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 112° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Observation at 1:53 pm from IND, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.