Bell 206B III accident near Mountain City, Nevada, December 27, 1983
On December 27, 1983 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N206JH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mountain City, Nevada. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 27, 1983 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mountain City, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N206JH · no longer on the register · serial 2918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE SNOW COVERED GROUND AFTER THE ENG QUIT DURING A POWER-LINE PATROL AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MILE WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING. HE ALSO SAID HE COULD SEE 4 TO 7 OF THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURES. THESE POLES ARE SPACED ABOUT 350 FT APART SO SEVEN POLES TOTALS LESS THAN 1/2 MILE. THE BELL 206BFLT MANUAL STATES THAT 'OPERATIONS ARE PERMITTED IN FALLING SNOW WHEN VISIBILITY IS IN EXCESS OF 1/2 MILE, BUT FLT DURATION IS LIMITED TO 1 AND 1/2 HOURS.' INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT WHEN THE TOP PLUG OF THE FUEL PUMP FILTER WAS LOOSENED, THE SOUND OF ESCAPING AIR WAS NOTED. INVESTIGATION ALSO REVEALED THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE FORWARD FUEL BOOST PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW IC-38-L TYPE PUMP WHICH HAD BEEN SIGNED OFF AS HAVING BEEN CHECKED FOR PRESSURE AND BLED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,860 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,220 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1983; 39 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: Boise ID
- Destination: Mountain City NV
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N206JH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.