Bell 206L-1 accident near Reinholds, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1984
On October 3, 1984 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N77AR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reinholds, Pennsylvania. It was a business 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).
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
- October 3, 1984 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reinholds, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N77AR · no longer on the register · serial 45296
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT FELT VIBRATION IN ANTI-TORQUE PEDALS FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF LOUD BANGS COMING FROM THE TAIL SECTION. PLT INITIATED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DURING WHICH TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. DURING THE 'POWER OFF' RUN ON LANDING MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY DISCLOSED THE SECOND TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SEGMENT FAILED AFTER ONE BOLT FROM THE REAR THOMAS COUPLER DISCONNECTED. EXAMINATION OF THE BOLT HOLES REVEALED THREAD IMPRINTS. THE BOLT AND NUT WERE NOT FOUND
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,882 hours in all; 257 in this make and model; 82 in the last 30 days; 5,264 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA
- Destination: RDG Reading PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from LNS, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N77AR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.