Bell 206B accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, September 28, 1995
On September 28, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N28SJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Eagle Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining adequate terrain clearance during his maneuvering exercise and his abrupt lowering of the collective. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's lack of experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Eagle Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N28SJ · no longer on the register · serial 3070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS DEMONSTRATING MANEUVERS OVER TALL GRASS NEAR A HILL. A TAIL WIND OF FIVE TO TEN KNOTS WAS PRESENT. HE THOUGHT THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL STINGER STRUCK THE HILL WHILE OPERATING AT 110% TORQUE. THE PILOT SAID HE OVER CONTROLLED THE COLLECTIVE WHEN HE REDUCED TORQUE. THE PILOT SAID THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED RAPIDLY AFTER HE REDUCED THE TORQUE, STRIKING THE GROUND AND ROLLING ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. DURING TRAINING, THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTOR PILOTS HAD STRONGLY EMPHASIZED TO THE PILOT THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING BELOW MAXIMUM TORQUE. THE PILOT STATED THIS STRONG EMPHASIS RESULTED IN HIS REDUCING THE COLLECTIVE RAPIDLY AND ULTIMATELY THE HARD COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 455 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,438 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1995; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from IND, 7 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.