Bell BH206L-1 accident near Hawley, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1985
On August 18, 1985 at about 1:12 pm local time, a Bell BH206L-1 (helicopter), registered N100FH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hawley, Pennsylvania. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- August 18, 1985 · about 1:12 pm local time
- Place
- Hawley, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell BH206L-1
- Registration
- N100FH · registry record · serial 45357
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER ARRIVED AT A PRIVATE RESIDENCE TO TRANSPORT RACE CAR DRIVERS TO THE POCONO RACEWAY. DURING DEPARTURE THE PILOT FAILED TO SEE POWERLINES IN THE FLIGHT PATH THAT CONTACTED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM FAILED AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED TREES AND THE GROUND. THE OCCUPANTS DEPLANED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,317 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 253 in the last 90 days; 13,902 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,628 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 12, 1985; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hawley PA at 1:11 pm
- Destination: Pocono Race Tr. PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:30 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 | 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.
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.