Boeing BV234 accident near Burns, Oregon, August 22, 2008
On August 22, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Boeing BV234 (helicopter), registered N239CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Burns, Oregon (Burns Municipal airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burns, Oregon · Burns Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing BV234
- Registration
- N239CH · registry record · serial MJ006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing, the pilot ground-taxied the wheel-equipped helicopter to the fuel pit. While maneuvering in a turn, the aft main rotor blades impacted a hangar.
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
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,613 hours in all; 7,900 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 15,363 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,013 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 182 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 335 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,265.7 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 21, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 42,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming AL5512 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming AL5512 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Columbia Helicopters Leasing
The flight
- Departed from: EUG Eugene OR at 5:25 pm
- Destination: BNO Burns OR
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.