Bell 206B II accident near San Francisco, California, August 14, 1990
On August 14, 1990 at about 1:36 am local time, a Bell 206B II (helicopter), registered N2917W, was destroyed in an accident near San Francisco, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE HELICOPTER IN A FLIGHT REGIME CONDUCIVE TO UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1990 · about 1:36 am local time
- Place
- San Francisco, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B II · all 206B IIs on the register
- Registration
- N2917W · no longer on the register · serial 806
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS MANEUVERING HIS HELIOCPTER IN A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AROUND A SAILBOAT TO PROVIDE AN AERIAL PLATFORM FOR A MOVIE FILM CREW. ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE WATER AND A FEW FEET FROM THE SAILBOAT MAST, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS DOWNWIND FROM THE RELATIVE WIND DIRECTION. THE PILOT REDUCED COLLECTIVE PITCH AND THE SPIN STOPPED. DUE TO THE COLLECTIVE REDUCTION, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER BEFORE IT STRUCK THE OCEAN SURFACE AND SANK.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,130 hours in all; 3,300 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 8,997 as pilot in command; 1,504 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,955 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 9, 1990; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Astro Copters LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: San Rafael CA at 1:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N2917W 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.