Bell 206B accident near Temecula, California, June 14, 1983
On June 14, 1983 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N5754M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Temecula, California (Temecula airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries. 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
- June 14, 1983 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · Temecula
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5754M · registry record · serial 3115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A DEMONSTRATION FLT TO FAMILIARIZE THE PASSENGERS WITH THE HELICOPTER. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE PROCEEDED NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT AGL & 80 KTS IN WIND THAT WAS FROM THE WEST AT 25 GUSTING 30 KTS. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 3 MI, HE TURNED LEFT TOWARD A WESTERLY DIRECTION, USING APRX A 30 DEG BANK. HE STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO ROLLING OUT OF THE TURN, THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO RAPIDLY LOSE ALT & THE FORWARD & AFT CYCLIC CONTROL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HIS IMPUTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. HE BELIEVED THAT THE WIND HAD SHIFT & THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE TURNED DOWNWIND & BEGAN SETTING WITH POWER. ACCORDING TO A PASSENGER, WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS IN THE TURN TO THE WEST, HE FELT A THUMP, THE ACFT BEGAN CLIMBING, THEN WENT INTO A 360 DEG SPIN TO THE RIGHT. NO PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE 3 SERVO ACTUATORS WERE TESTED & ALL 3 FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. LOCAL PLTS REPORTED THE WINDS WERE OFTEN UNPREDICTABLE DUE TO ROLLING HILLS IN THE AREA.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,186 hours in all; 425 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 2,976 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 730 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 16, 1983; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Temecula CA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 25 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.