Bell 206L-1 accident near Tucker, Utah, August 26, 1983
On August 26, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N3900B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucker, Utah. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 26, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tucker, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N3900B · no longer on the register · serial 45609
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON A SEISMIC DATA ACQUISTION OPERATION. WHILE LANDING BY A ROAD IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 8400 FT, THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO APPROACH TO A HOVER OVER THE ROADWAY. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DUST WAS BLOWN FROM THE ROTOR DOWNWASH CAUSING PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND TO COVER THEIR EYES & LOOK AWAY. THE HELICOPTER WAS NEXT OBSERVED TO PULL UP & AWAY FROM THE GROUND PERSONNEL, THEN MOVE UP THE HILL (BESIDE THE ROAD) & TURN RIGHT TO FACE THE HILLSIDE. GROUND PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT IT THEN MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE, SPUN AROUND, BEGAN TO WHIP BACK & FORTH, THEN DESCENDED INTO TREES IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. AFTER IMPACT, IT ROLLED DOWN THE HILLSIDE & CAMETO REST AT THE ROAD. THE PLT WAS INJURED & COULD NOT REMEMBER THE OCCURRENCE. GROUND PERSONNEL THOUGHT THE ENG LOST POWER, BUT NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND. SEVERAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE 'OUT' BUT 2 OF THEM (BOOST PUMP) WOULD NORMALLYHAVE BEEN PULLED AFTER LANDING. WIND FROM SOUTH, 10 KTS. WITNESS SAID, GUST BLEW DUST BACK TOWARD ACFT, WHILE HOVERING.
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; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,322 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days; 4,291 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 802 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 25, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from PVU, 32 miles away
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.