Bell 206B accident near Parks, Arizona, January 30, 1993
On January 30, 1993, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N855B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parks, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
1) THE PILOT NOT OBTAINING FORECAST WEATHER FOR HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT NOR HIS DESTINATION 2) THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT DECISION TO FLY INTO SNOW WITH THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE AIR INDUCTION PARTICLE SEPARATOR KIT NOT INSTALLED, AS REQUIRED BY THE BELL 206B PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, AND 3) THE PILOT'S IN FLIGHT DECISION TO TURN THE ENGINE ANTI ICE TO THE OFF POSITION. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN THE PILOT WAS FLYING OVER WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THIS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN CAUSED THE PILOT TO USE COLLECTIVE PITCH TO CLEAR TREES RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT ROTOR RPM TO CUSHION THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1993
- Place
- Parks, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N855B · no longer on the register · serial 316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED DURING VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ABOUT 55 MILES FROM HIS DEPARTURE POINT HE SAID THE CEILING DECREASED TO 300 FEET AND VISIBILITY WAS ONE HALF MILE IN SNOW SHOWERS. HE SAID THE TEMPERATURE WAS 38 TO 49 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. HE TURNED THE ENGINE ANTI ICE ON. HE FLEW ANOTHER 6 TO 8 MILES AND NOTED THE TEMPERATURE AS 40 TO 41 DEGREES. HE TURNED THE ANTI ICE OFF. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER CHECKED THE ENGINE INLET AREA AND REPORTED TO THE PILOT THAT SHE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. IN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND TRIED TO LAND IN AN OPEN AREA. HE SAID HE HAD TO USE SOME COLLECTIVE PITCH TO CLEAR TREES. WITH INSUFFICIENT REMAINING COLLECTIVE PITCH, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE WAS STARTED ON SCENE. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR IT WAS ALSO RAN THROUGH ALL POWER SETTINGS WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AT A TEST FACILITY. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT HAVE THE ENGINE AIR INDUCTION PARTICLE SEPARATOR KIT INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT, AS REQUIRED BY THE BELL 206B FLIGHT MANUAL. THE MANUAL ALSO STATES THE ENGINE ANTI ICE SHOULD BE 'ON' IN VISIBLE MOISTURE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,313 hours in all; 2,160 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 5,660 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,974 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 6, 1992; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Supai AZ at 11:15 pm
- Destination: SEZ Sedona AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded at 300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.