Bell 206B-II accident near Yucaipa, California, April 16, 1987
On April 16, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B-II (helicopter), registered N76EF, was destroyed in an accident near Yucaipa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- April 16, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yucaipa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-II · all 206B-IIs on the register
- Registration
- N76EF · no longer on the register · serial 1756
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELL 206B WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED WHILE LNDG AT A 5,720 FT HIGH HELIPAD. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE TERMINATED THE APRCH AT A 8-10 FT HOVER AND BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT WITH FULL LEFT PEDAL APPLIED. AFTER 1 1/2 TO 2 TURNS THE PLT ATMPTD TO FLY OUT OF THE SPIN BY LOWERING THE NOSE AND REDUCING POWER. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SPIN AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ROLLING ONTO IT'S LEFT SIDE. THE APPROX DENSITY ALTITUDE (DA) FOR THE HELIPAD WAS 6,800 FT MSL. AC 61-13B STATES, 'IF THE DESTINATION IS AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE AND/OR HIGHER TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE CONTENT PREVAIL, SUFFICIENT POWER MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE TO HOVER AT THE DESTINATION WITH THE EXISTING GROSS WEIGHT'. THE MANUAL ALSO STATES THAT A NORMAL APRCH TO THE SURFACE SHOULD BE USED WHEN HIGH DA OR HEAVILY LOADED CONDITIONS EXIST. THE FAA DEFINED 'UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW' AS AN OCCURRENCE OF AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW RATE WHICH DOES NOT SUBSIDE OF ITS OWN ACCORD AND WHICH, IF NOT CORRECTED CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF ACFT CONTROL.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 194 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,966 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 1987; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from SBD, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.