Bell 206B III accident near Park City, Utah, January 8, 1989
On January 8, 1989 at about 9:27 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N16733, was substantially damaged in an accident near Park City, Utah. It was an other work-use 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 SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING SITE BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN TAIL ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE TERRAIN AND SHEARING OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 1989 · about 9:27 pm local time
- Place
- Park City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N16733 · no longer on the register · serial 2138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT FLEW A RESCUE TEAM TO A MOUNTAIN AVALANCHE AREA. THE TEAM DEPLANED AND DURING THE UNLOADING PROCEDURE THE HELICOPTER SETTLED BACKWARDS INTO LOOSE SNOW. THE PLT ADDED COLLECTIVE PITCH AND ATTEMPTED TO HOVER. AS THE HELICOPTER LEFT THE GROUND, AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT SPIN BEGAN. THE PLT PERFORMED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION 30 FEET AWAY FROM THE GROUND PERSONNEL. AT TOUCHDOWN THE TAIL BOOM ENTERED DEEP SNOW AND THE ACFT CAME TO REST NOSE HIGH. THE PLT DISCOVERED THE TAIL ROTOR SHAFT HAD BROKEN FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED EVIDENCE THAT THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES ENTERED LOOSE SNOW AND WERE SUBJECTED TO RAPID DECELERATION. THE SHAFT HAD SHEARED UNDER APPLIED TORQUE.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,404 hours in all; 2,663 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 7,280 as pilot in command; 181 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,439 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 2, 1988; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Avman INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 9:27 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N16733 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.