Bell 206B accident near Supai, Arizona, December 13, 1983
On December 13, 1983 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N10MP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Supai, Arizona. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person 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
- December 13, 1983 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Supai, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N10MP · no longer on the register · serial 421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS TRANSPORTING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OF DRYWALL PANELS WHEN THE ACFT'S ENG CHIP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE SET THE LOAD DOWN & INSPECTED THE ACFT & ENG. FINDING NOTHING WRONG, HE RECONNECTED THE CABLE WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE NET CONTAINING THE PANELS. HOWEVER HE INADVERTENTLY RECONNECTED THE CABLE TO THE ACFT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT PASSED OVER THE TOP OF THE RIGHT SKID TUBE AT THE HEEL. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT LIFT-OFF THE ACFT'S NOSE ABRUPTLY PITCHED UP & THE ACFT ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE IMPACTING THE TERRAIN.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,825 hours in all; 981 in this make and model; 208 in the last 90 days; 1,660 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,924 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.