Bell 206A accident near Bedminster, New Jersey, April 27, 1989
On April 27, 1989 at about 6:29 pm local time, a Bell 206A (helicopter), registered N273E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedminster, New Jersey (Kean Helistop airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1989 · about 6:29 pm local time
- Place
- Bedminster, New Jersey · Kean Helistop
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206A · all 206As on the register
- Registration
- N273E · no longer on the register · serial 167
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AT ABOUT 300-400 FT AGL THE ENGINE OUT AUDIO ALARM & WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND NOSE TO BUILD UP ROTOR RPM & AIRSPEED. THE PILOT FLARED AT 50 FT, BUT SAID THE ROTOR RPM WAS TOO LOW AFTER AVOIDING TREES AND THE AIRCRAFT FELL THROUGH THE INITIAL COLLECTIVE PITCH PULL, STRIKING THE GROUND AND ROLLING OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE BEFORE COMING TO REST. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING AN ENGINE RUN, OR WITH THE AIRFRAME OR FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: 888 hours in all; 836 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 838 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,969 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1989; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Apollo Helicopter CO.
The flight
- Departed from: Bedminster NJ at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Union NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 200 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.