Bell 206B accident near Chalkhill, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1985
On September 22, 1985 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N32TV, was destroyed in an accident near Chalkhill, Pennsylvania. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was killed. 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
- September 22, 1985 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Chalkhill, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N32TV · no longer on the register · serial 1112
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION WITH A 100 FT CABLE ATTACHED. WHEN A 618 LB LOAD WAS READY TO BE MOVED, THE PLT STARTED THE ENG, LIFTED OFF & MOVED THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER OVER THE LOAD. THE LOADERS HOOKED THE LOAD TO THE CABLE & GAVE THE PLT A SIGNAL TO DEPART, THEN THEY NOTICED THE CABLE WAS DROOPED OVER THE AFT PART OF THE LEFT SKID. THE CREW TRIED TO SIGNAL THE PLT, BUT AS THE HELICOPTER LIFTED THE LOAD, IT BEGAN MOVING IN A REARWARD & LEFT TURNING, PENDULOUS MOTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED NEARLY INVERTED ONTO WOODED TERRAIN. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE 100 FT CABLE WAS ABOVE THE HELICOPTER IN A TREE & EXTENDED TO WHERE IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND ANOTHER TREE. ALL OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE FOUND OPEN. THE CARGO HOOK HAD A MANUAL & AN ELECTRICAL RELEASE. THE CARGO HOOK WAS TORN FROM THE HELICOPTER.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,898 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 16, 1985; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.