Bell 206B accident near Vernal, Utah, September 12, 1984
On September 12, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N1086Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vernal, Utah. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- September 12, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vernal, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1086Y · no longer on the register · serial 2988
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT WHILE ON A HEADING OF 050 DEGS (WIND FROM 270 DEGS AT 5 KTS) THE ACFT BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT. PLT ATTEMPTED REMEDIAL ACTION BUT ACFT CONTINUED DESCENDING IN A RIGHT SPIRAL TO GROUND CONTACT. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANINCAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON, INC., PUBLISHED INFORMATION LETTER 206-84-41 DATED JULY 6, 1984 IN WHICH IT DESCRIBES UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW AS, '... THE OCCURRENCE OF AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW RATE WHICH DOES NOT SUBSIDE OF ITS OWN ACCORD AND WHICH, IF NOT CORRECTED CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.' THE PLT WAS IN THE POST SOLO PHASE OF HIS HELICOPTER TRAINING. ONE PASSENGER WAS ON BOARD WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,634 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 1,493 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,587 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 8, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Telestar INC
The flight
- Departed from: Vernal UT at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from VEL
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.