Bell 206B accident near Soda Springs, California, July 19, 1985
On July 19, 1985 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N7910J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soda Springs, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- July 19, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Soda Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7910J · no longer on the register · serial 675
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JULY 19,1985 A BELL 206B LOST CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR SODA SPRINGS,CA.THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE TWO PILOTS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE REPOTED HE WAS MANEUVERING AT 30 MPH LOOKING FOR SHEEP IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNCOMMANDED YAW TO THE RIGHT,LOST CONTROL AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED INTO THE TERRAIN.HE ATTRIBUTED THE LOSS OF CONTROLLED INTO THE TERRAIN.HE ATTRIBUTED THE LOSS OF CONTROL AS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,300 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,551 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hofman Ranch
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.