Bell 206B-III accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, December 11, 1993
On December 11, 1993, a Bell 206B-III (helicopter), registered N2773R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper initiation of an emergency autorotation into unsuitable terrain and subsequent hard landing and rollover. A false annunciator indication, a failure of the N1 tach generator, the pilot's continued flight with a known aircraft defect, and the pilot's improper identification of the failed N1 gauge were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1993
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-III · all 206B-IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N2773R · registry record · serial 2772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE HELICOPTER HAD EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE 'ENGINE OUT' ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT. THE PILOT CONTINUED FLYING AND MONITORED THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS, PARTICULARLY THE N2 POWER TURBINE GAUGE. DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE ANNUNCIATOR AGAIN FLICKERED AND THEN STAYED ON. IN ADDITION, THE 'ENGINE OUT' HORN ALSO SOUNDED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE PARAMETERS REMAINED NORMAL. THE ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT AND HORN WILL ACTIVATE IF THE N1 GAS PRODUCER FALLS BELOW 55 PERCENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A TURN, THE N2 BEGAN DECREASING AND HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER FOLLOWING A HARD LANDING. POSTACCIDENT TESTS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATED WITHIN NORMAL SPECIFICATIONS. THE N2 TACH GENERATOR OPERATED NORMAL. THE N1 TACH GENERATOR FAILED.
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: 1,100 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,005 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1993; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX94LA075.