Bell 206B accident near Escalon, California, March 13, 1983
On March 13, 1983 at about 8:30 am local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N90329, was substantially damaged in an accident near Escalon, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- March 13, 1983 · about 8:30 am local time
- Place
- Escalon, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N90329 · no longer on the register · serial 2950
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A SMALL TREE ABOUT 8 FT HIGH DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE COLLISION BROKE THE TAIL BOOM AND A HARD LANDING CAUSED THE FAILURE OF A LANDING SKID AND DAMAGED THE MAIN ROTOR. THE PLT HAD TAKEN TWO FRIENDS FOR A NIGHT FLT AND AFTER A SHORT FLIGHT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE FORCED LANDING FOLLOWED. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION THE FUEL IN THE ACFT WAS FOUND TO BE DIRTY. BECAUSE OF A FUEL BYPASS THAT PERMITSCONTINOUS FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE BYPASSING THE MAIN FUEL FILTER FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A CRITICAL FACTOR IN THIS INSTANCE.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,193 hours in all; 2,150 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 2,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,165 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 12, 1983; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison C-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.