Bell 206L-1 accident near Salem, Utah, May 18, 2002
On May 18, 2002 at about 8:49 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N3894Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Utah. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during takeoff. A contributing factor was the wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2002 · about 8:49 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N3894Q · no longer on the register · serial 45589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was lifting off from a steel helipad located at the 8,800' msl level when it began turning to the right. The pilot applied left pedal, but the helicopter struck trees and impacted terrain 300 feet from the helipad. The pilot told an FAA inspector he had lost "tail rotor effectiveness." The pilot said there were gusty winds in the area at the time of the accident.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,590 hours in all; 1,413 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,236 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 9, 2002; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTF Bountiful UT at 8:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Salem UT
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from PVU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.