Bell 206B III accident near Moultonboro, New Hampshire, June 28, 1986
On June 28, 1986 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N1068Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moultonboro, New Hampshire. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 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
- June 28, 1986 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Moultonboro, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N1068Y · registry record · serial 206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BELL JET RANGER HAD JUST DROPPED OFF AN EXTERNAL LOAD AND WAS RETURNING DOWNHILL WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING A GROWLING NOISE IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AUTOROTATED TO LANDING AS CONTROL WAS LOST. WHEN THE WRECKAGE WAS EXAMINED AFTER IT HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX WAS OUT OF THE AIRFRAME AND ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS MISSING. EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING TAIL ROTOR STUB BY THE NTSB LAB SHOWED THE FAILURE WAS OPPOSITE THE NORMAL DIRECTION OF ROTATION. WHAT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK WAS NOT DETERMINED. ROTATION OF THE 90 DEGREE GEARBOX REVEALED THERE WAS NO BINDING.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,390 hours in all; 945 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 4,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,852 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C-20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Joe Brigha, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.