Bell 206L-3 accident near Benson, Arizona, July 2, 1987
On July 2, 1987 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N2123X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Benson, Arizona. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people 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
- July 2, 1987 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Benson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N2123X · registry record · serial 51003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELL HELICOPTER 206L-3 COLLIDED WITH WIRES WHILE MANEUVERING OVER AN UNDERGROUND TELEPHONE CABLE. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A 360 DEG RIGHT TURN AT THE REQUEST OF THE PAX AND WAS APRX 185 DEG THROUGH THE SECOND TURN WHEN HE STRUCK A UNMARKED SINGLE STRAND POWER CABLE. THE PLT NOTICED A BRIGHT ELECTRICAL FLASH IN THE AREA OF THE ACFTS WINDSHIELD CENTER POST. HE IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AUTOROTATION AT APRX 80 FT AGL AND 60 KTS INDICATED AIRSPEED. THE TERRAIN BELOW THE ACFT WAS A VEGETATED DRY FLAT SANDY WASH. THE HELO LANDING HARD COLLAPSING THE SKID TYPE LANDING GEAR AND THEN ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PLT ALSO STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE WIRES PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE WIRES WERE STRUNG ACROSS THE WASH WITH THE POLES MASKED BY CANYON WALLS ON EACH SIDE OF THE WASH. THE PLT DID NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,485 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 1, 1987; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Services International
The flight
- Departed from: P33 Willcox AZ at 8:30 pm
- Destination: TUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:05 pm from TUS, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.