Bell 204 accident near Snelling, California, January 11, 1985
On January 11, 1985, a Bell 204 (helicopter), registered N99021, was substantially damaged in an accident near Snelling, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 11, 1985
- Place
- Snelling, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 204 · all 204s on the register
- Registration
- N99021 · registry record · serial 64-13949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT VACATED THE ACFT WITH ENGINE AT IDLE & WITH THE BLADES TURNING TO REFUEL. THE LANDING PLATFORM MOUNTED ON THE 'NURSE' TRUCK WAS SLIPPERY FROM AN OIL & COPPER MIXTURE USED IN THE SPRAYING OPERATION. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SLIDE & THE PLT REBOARDED JUST AS IT FELL OFF THE TRUCK.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,450 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 30,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36,829 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 8,600 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 653-11 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Delhi CA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°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.