Bell 206B III accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 19, 1987
On November 19, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N1073N, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 2 people 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
- November 19, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N1073N · no longer on the register · serial 2881
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE A PARACHUTE RETARDED ROCKET THAT CAME TO REST IN A TREE BY HOOKING THE RIGHT FRONT SKID SHOE UNDER THE CHUTE, THE PARACHUTE GOT HUNG UP IN THE TREE. THE HELICOPTER LIFTED THE ROCKET APPROX 6 FT INTO THE AIR BEFORE IT SWUNG INTO THE LOWER BRANCHES OF THE TREE. THE ACFT ROLLED RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN APPROX 45 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,463 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 8,349 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,940 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 1987; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero West Management Services
The flight
- Departed from: 4AC Albuquerque NM at 3:45 pm
- Destination: Sandia Labs NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ABQ, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.