Bell 206B accident near Alpine, Wyoming, March 26, 1984
On March 26, 1984 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N2228W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alpine, Wyoming. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- March 26, 1984 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2228W · no longer on the register · serial 439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED ON TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF 10 FT AGL A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE LEFT SKID CONTACTED EITHER THE PAD OR AN OBJECT ON THE PAD AND THE ACFT ROLLED OVER TO THE LEFT. THE PLT STATED THAT WHITE OUT CONDITION OCCURRED DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF AND FORCED LANDING FROM PICKING UP SNOW WITH THE ROTOR WASH. THE ACFT ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE INSPECTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. PRIOR TO TAKE0FF THE ACFT WAS HOOKED UP TO A BATTERY BOX WITH A 25 FT EXTENSION CORD TO OPERATE A BATTERY BLANKET AND TWO ACFT HEATERS. A SECTION OF THE EXTENSION CORD WAS FOUND NEAR THE WRECKAGE AND WAS APRX 85 FT FROM ANOTHER SECTION WHICH WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE BATTERY BOX. EXAMINATION OF THE CORD REVEALED IT WAS TORN IN HALF BY A PULLING ACTION.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,261 hours in all; 1,235 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 3, 1984; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Alpine WY at 11:05 am
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 am
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.