Bell 206L-1 accident near Camarillo, California, January 28, 1984
On January 28, 1984 at about 11:00 am local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N2045U, was destroyed in an accident near Camarillo, California (Camarillo airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- January 28, 1984 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Camarillo, California · Camarillo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2045U · no longer on the register · serial 45649
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT HAD BEEN DRINKING & DECIDED TO PROVE TO HIS FRIENDS THAT HE COULD FLY A HELICOPTER. REPORTEDLY, HE 'THREW ON A BUNCH OF SWITCHES, AND GOT THE ENGINE STARTED.' WHEN HE ATTEMPTED THE TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PLT HELD A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE, BUT NO RECORD WAS FOUND OF ANY DUAL INSTRUCTION IN EITHER A HELICOPTER OR AN ACFT.
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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,085 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 4, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMA at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.