Bell UH-1B accident near Amarillo, Texas, February 26, 1984
On February 26, 1984 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N31213, was substantially damaged in an accident near Amarillo, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 26, 1984 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N31213 · registry record · serial 62-1915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS ADVISED BY FSS THAT AMARILLO HAD SNOW FLURRIES, VISIBILITY 4 MILES AND WIND FROM 350 DEGS AT 28 KTS GUSTING TO 34 KTS, TUCUMCARI, NM WAS REPORTING 2 MILES VISIBILITY WITH LIGHT SNOW AND AREAS FURTHER WEST WERE CLEARING. THE PLT DEPARTED AMARILLO UNDER A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE AND STATED THE WX WAS ALRIGHT UNTIL WEST OF AMARILLO WHERE VISIBILITY DETERIORATED TO 1/2 MILE WITH BLOWING SNOW. BECAUSE OF THE DECREASING VISIBILITY AND INCREASING WINDS THE PLT DECIDED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. PLT STATED THE ENGINE INTAKE SCREENS ICED UP AND A LOSS OF RPM WAS EXPERIENCED WHILE MANEUVERING THE HELICOPTER INTO THE WIND FOR LANDING. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER TO THE RIGHT.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,818 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 1,716 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,556 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1984; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming T-53-L-11D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AMA Amarillo TX
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 28 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Observation at 1:47 pm from AMA, 5 miles away
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.