Bell 206L-1 accident near Covelo, California, August 27, 1987
On August 27, 1987 at about 11:58 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N22HU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Covelo, California. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- August 27, 1987 · about 11:58 pm local time
- Place
- Covelo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N22HU · registry record · serial 45562
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PERFORMED A VERTICAL TAKEOFF. AT APRX 30 FT AGL, WHILE TRANSITIONING TO FORWARD FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT PARTIALLY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON SLOPING TERRAIN AND BOUNCED LATERALLY TO THE RIGHT COLLIDING WITH TREES. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION THE HELICOPTER WAS DEFUELED. APRX 14.6 GALS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM THE REAR MAIN FUEL CELL AND APRX 4.7 GALS WERE DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED CONTAMINATION OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN-LINE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLIES (PART NO. 206-063-001). THE CONTAMINATION WAS IDENTIFIED AS DIRT, PAINT CHIPS, LINT TYPE FUZZ, AND METAL SHAVINGS. ACCORDING TO BELL HELICOPTER THE FUEL TRANSFER SYSTEM CAN BE RENDERED INOPERATIVE BY CONTAMINANTS RESULTING IN ENGINE FLAMEOUTS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,677 hours in all; 1,284 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 3,575 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,082 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 1987; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N22HU the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.