Bell 206L-1 accident near Tuckerton, New Jersey, July 29, 1984
On July 29, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N1072G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuckerton, New Jersey (Heliport Bass River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tuckerton, New Jersey · Heliport Bass River
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N1072G · no longer on the register · serial 45336
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT AT 8 TO 10 FT IN A HOVER THE CYCLIC SNAPPED REARWARD 3 TO 4 IN WITH A NOISE FROM THE REAR. THE TAILBOOM WAS FOUND BENT APRX 45 DEGREES DOWN AND 15 DEGREES RIGHT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF GROUND CONTACT ON THE TAIL SKID SHOE. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS INDICATED COMPRESSIVE BUCKLING DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH EXCESSIVE BENDING LOADS ON THE BOOM. INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES/MALFUNCTIONS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,502 hours in all; 259 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 456 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 11, 1984; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C-28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tuckerton NJ
- Destination: AIY Atlantic City NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.