Bell 206B accident near Durango, Colorado, July 21, 1984
On July 21, 1984 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N5754K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 21, 1984 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5754K · no longer on the register · serial 3126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ENGINE QUIT AS THE PLT MANEUVERED OVER A RIDGE LINE AFTER OPERATING OVER 1 HOUR WITHOUT REFUELING EVEN THOUGH FUEL WAS AVAILABLE AT THE LAST STOP. THE PLT SAID THE FUEL GAGES INDICATED 6 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. OF THIS ABOUT 2 ARE UNUSABLE IN LEVEL CRUISE AND MORE UNUSABLE WHEN MANEUVERING. THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO DRAINED THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT SAID ABOUT 4 GALLONS WERE ON BOARD. THE PLT WAS ONLY 5 MILES FROM DESTINATION WHEN FLAMEOUT OCCURRED, WHICH CANOCCUR FROM FUEL FLOW INTERRUPTION WHEN 'SLOSHING' DURING MANEUVERS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RE-IGNITE UNLESS IT HAS IGNITIONSUCH AS AN AUTO RELIGHT WHICH THIS ACFT DID NOT HAVE. THE PLT DID NOT MENTION ANY ATTEMPTS TO RESTART.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,380 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 5,140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,126 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 2, 1984; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tall Timbers Ld CO at 5:27 pm
- Destination: 5CO Durango CO
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from DRO
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.