Bell 206B accident near Farmington, New Mexico, April 6, 1984
On April 6, 1984 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N5743H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmington, New Mexico. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- April 6, 1984 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Farmington, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5743H · registry record · serial 3042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING, THERE WAS A HEAVY SMELL OF FUEL. AT APRX 150 FT AGL ON A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, THE ENG QUIT. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED HARD, COLLAPSING THE SKIDS, & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SHEARED OF THE TAIL BOOM. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, THE FUEL HOSE B-NUT (CONNECTED TO THE INLET SIDE OF THE FUEL FILTER) WAS FOUND LOOSE & LESS THAN FINGER TIGHT. MOVING THE FUEL HOSE CAUSED A STEADY STREAM OF FUEL TO FLOW OUTWARD FROM THE B-NUT. ALSO, THE B-NUT ON THE INLET SIDE OF THE FUEL FILTER WAS FOUND TO BE FINGER TIGHT & COULD BE BACKED OFF WITH FINGER FORCE. AN ANNUAL/300 HOUR INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON 1/10/84, 39 HOURS PRIOR TO 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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 6,380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 784 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1984; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Cortez CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.