Bell 206B III accident near Sula, Montana, January 6, 1983
On January 6, 1983 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N55LW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sula, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- January 6, 1983 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Sula, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N55LW · registry record · serial 2249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CRASHED TAIL LOW AND ROLLED OVER IN AN OPEN FIELD DURING MARGINAL WEATHER. THE PILOT WAS FLYING ON AN EXPIRED STUDENT CERTIFICATE AND EXPIRED MEDICAL. ACCORDING TO A PILOT WHO HAD WORKED WITH HIM THE PILOT HAD NO HELICOPTER RATING. WITNESSES STATED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AS POOR VISIBILITY AND SNOWING. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY SPECIFIC REASON FOR LOW ROTOR RMP JUST PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,237 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,822 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Corvallis MT at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.