Bell 206B accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey, October 17, 1985
On October 17, 1985 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N678TV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey (Colts Neck airport). It was a business 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
- October 17, 1985 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Colts Neck, New Jersey · Colts Neck
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N678TV · no longer on the register · serial 2400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AT AN ALT OF 1000 FT MSL AT A SPEED OF 100 MPH. THE PLT STATED, AT 75 FT AGL HE STARTED TO DECELERATE AND THE ACFT WAS LEVELED AT 8 FT AGL. CUSHIONING PITCH WAS USED TO HOLD THE ACFT OFF THE GROUND FOR A ZERO GROUND RUN ON TOUCHDOWN. THE HEELS OF THE SKIDS TOUCHED THE TERRAIN RESULTING IN THE NOSE PITCHING UP. THIS RESULTED IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXING AND SEVERING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,103 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 1,103 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,637 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 1985; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NK16 N.Y. Heliport NY at 1:45 pm
- Destination: N61 Colts Neck NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,560 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.