Bell 206B accident near Trimmer, California, January 8, 1985
On January 8, 1985 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N59549, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trimmer, California. It was a positioning flight 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 8, 1985 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Trimmer, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N59549 · no longer on the register · serial 1387
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THE HELICOPTER LOST PWR DURING CRUISE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ADD PWR TO CLIMB. HE STATED THAT N2 DECREASED ALONG WITH THE ACTIVATION OF VISUAL AND AUDIO ENGINE OUT WARNINGS. AN AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED TO A ROAD, HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER SLID OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN A 50 DEG SLOPE IN THE TERRAIN BEFORE COMING TO REST. POST ACCIDENT TESTS REVEALED THE FUEL GOVERNOR, P/N 104100A12-A8, HAD AN EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE RATE AT THE BYPASS VALVUE AND THE DECELERATION AND SLOPE TESTS WERE OUT OF LIMITS. WHEN RETESTED, THE GOVERNOR WAS FOUND CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION.
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: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,820 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 4,620 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,813 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 1984; 11 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: Fresno CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Lake Wishon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from FAT, 22 miles away
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.