Bell 206L-1 accident near Cedar Hill, Texas, January 25, 1984
On January 25, 1984 at about 9:30 am local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N3904N, was destroyed in an accident near Cedar Hill, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- January 25, 1984 · about 9:30 am local time
- Place
- Cedar Hill, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N3904N · no longer on the register · serial 45605
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO CHECK FOR OIL LEAKS AFTER MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALT OF 50 TO 100 FT AGL, THE PLT NOTICED A '2 PER REV VIBRATION' AND DECIDED TO LAND IN A FIELD. WHEN APRX 5 FT AGL THE PLT FELT WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A CG SHIFT AND THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND. COLLECTIVE WAS THEN LOWERED, HOWEVER, CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WAS LOST AND A POLL OVER RESULTED. THE PLT STATED THE VIBRATION WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BESIDE THE 2 FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS A 226 LB PASSENGER WAS IN THE RIGHT CENTER (REAR FACING) SEAT. THE PASSENGER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE MUCH FROM THE CENTER SEAT AND JUST PRIOR TO THE SKID CONTACT, HE MOVED TO THE RIGHT REAR (FORWARD FACING) SEAT. THIS WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THE REARWARD CG SHIFT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,668 hours in all; 3,975 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 5,410 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 379 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 25, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cedar Hill TX at 9:28 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: at 2 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:00 am from DAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.