Bell 206A accident near Ukiah, California, May 20, 1994
On May 20, 1994 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 206A (helicopter), registered N206HS, was destroyed in an accident near Ukiah, California (Private Helipad airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness event and a subsequent loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1994 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ukiah, California · Private Helipad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206A · all 206As on the register
- Registration
- N206HS · registry record · serial 526
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was on approach to a ridge line landing zone. He said he was passing through translational lift at 20 knots and 70 feet when a gust of wind induced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a resultant loss of directional control. The pilot reported that the helicopter began to spin and he could not regain directional control prior to ground contact. After the impact sequence, a ground fire erupted which consumed the helicopter. The helicopter was an early model Bell 206A and was equipped with the small tail rotor.
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: 126 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,770 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 2, 1994; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Piercy CA at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.