Bell 206BIII accident near Glenbrook, Nevada, March 2, 1992
On March 2, 1992 at about 6:29 pm local time, a Bell 206BIII (helicopter), registered N59613, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glenbrook, Nevada. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO FOLLOW THE HELICOPTER'S PERFORMANCE DATA WHILE TRANSLATING OUT OF TRANSLATIONAL LIFT TO AND OUT OF GROUND EFFECT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1992 · about 6:29 pm local time
- Place
- Glenbrook, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206BIII · all 206BIIIs on the register
- Registration
- N59613 · no longer on the register · serial 1502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN WHILE FLYING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT ABOUT 20 KNOTS FORWARD AIRSPEED WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 6,875 FT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM THE HELICOPTER'S THE RIGHT FRONT WHEN IT STARTED THE UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ARREST THE RIGHT TURN BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE LAKE. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF ANY PREEXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH) WARNS PILOTS TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING AT LOW AIRSPEEDS AT HIGH ALTITUDES. THE POH INDICATES THAT TAILROTOR CONTROL MAY BE MARGINAL WHEN THE RELATIVE WIND IS IN THE CRITICAL WIND AZIMUTH AREA WHICH BEGINS AT THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT FAILED TO EVALUATE THE HELICOPTER'S PERFORMANCE DATA BEFORE DEPARTING.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,999 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 221 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 3,791 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,356 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 20, 1991; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Smith Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Tahoe City CA at 6:15 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 18,000 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from TVL, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.