Bell 206 accident near Allegheny, California, June 2, 1984
On June 2, 1984 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N9722R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allegheny, California. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 2 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
- June 2, 1984 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Allegheny, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N9722R · no longer on the register · serial 244
- 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 DELIVERING SUPPLIES FROM A MOUNTAIN SITE TO A RIVER WORK SITE. HE STATED THAT ON HIS 10TH & LAST FLT, THE WIND CAUSED THE HELICOPTER & EXTERNAL LOAD COMBINATION TO SHIFT LATERALLY. AT THAT TIME, THE LOAD/LINE BECAME ENTANGLED IN A TREE. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN MOVING IN AN ARC & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED IN THE RIVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE LOAD; ALTHO, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL & MANUAL RELEASE MECHANISMS & THEY OPERATED NORMALLY. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 050 DEG AT 5 GUSTING 7 KTS. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 3100 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,252 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 1984; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MYV, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.