Bell 206B accident near San Antonio, Texas, July 6, 1990
On July 6, 1990 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N3894L, was involved in an accident near San Antonio, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LINEMAN/FLIGHT CREWMAN NOT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1990 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3894L · no longer on the register · serial 3218
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS CONDUCTING A BAREHAND LIVE-LINE OPERATION OVER THE 345,000-VOLT ENERGIZED POWER LINE, AND WAS LOWERING THE ELECTRICAL LINEWORKER/FLIGHT CREWMAN TOWARD THE WORK AREA. THE WORKER RAISED HIS ARM WHICH COMPROMISED THE AIRGAP, AND RESULTED IN A FLASHOVER AND ELECTROCUTION.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 3,400 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1990; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Biscayne Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 am from SAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.