Bell 204B accident near Ocotillo, California, June 30, 1983
On June 30, 1983 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Bell 204B (helicopter), registered N1WA, was destroyed in an accident near Ocotillo, California. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1983 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Ocotillo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 204B · all 204Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1WA · registry record · serial 2065
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION TO AIRLIFT LOADS OF CEMENT. THE CEMENT WAS BEING POURED FOR BASE PILINGS FOR POWER LINE TOWERS ON ROUGH TERRAIN. WHILE CARRYING A 3100 LB LOAD OF CEMENT ON A 40 FT LINE, THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST MOVED TO A POSITION TO START POURING. WHILE STABLIZED IN A HOVER, THE PLT HEARD 3 COMPRESSOR STALLS. THE HELICOPTER YAWED & BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. THE PLT MOVED THE ACFT FORWARD FOR THE SAFETY OF WORKERS BELOW. THE PLT CONTINUED FORWARD, RELEASED THE EXTERNAL LOAD, CONTINUED AN AUTOROTATION INTO A RAVINE & LANDED ON SOFT, UNEVEN GROUND. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN MAKING UNCONTROLLABLE TURNS. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK A LARGE BOULDER. SHORTLY AFTER LANDING, A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY COSUMED THE HELICOPTER. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE, INCLUDING THE ENG, REVEALED NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE PINION GEAR OF THE 90 DEG GEAR BOX EXHIBITED SOME BACKLASH WEAR. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 3000 FT.
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: 4,800 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,566 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 17, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming T53-13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Jacumba CA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX83LA312.