Bell 206B accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, July 13, 1988
On July 13, 1988 at about 11:45 am local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N543CC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts (Plymouth Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE FUEL CONTROL WAS NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN DUE TO AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1988 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Massachusetts · Plymouth Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N543CC · registry record · serial 3593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER THE HELICOPTER TOOKOFF, THE LOW ROTOR RPM LIGHT CAME ON AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT RESPONDED BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE AND ENTERING INTO AUTOROTATION. AT TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT SKID COLLAPSED AND THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT REVEALED THAT IT WAS NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED.
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; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,174 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 208 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 2,067 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Carver MA at 12:45 pm
- Destination: PWM Portland ME
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.