Bell 206B accident near Hamilton, Massachusetts, May 4, 1995
On May 4, 1995 at about 1:30 am local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N219CT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Massachusetts. It was a personal 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 pilot's improper decision to fly at night with a night vision deficiency, and his failure to maintain clearance with trees during takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the trees and the subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1995 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Massachusetts
- 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
- N219CT · registry record · serial 2298
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM A TREE SURROUNDED FIELD AT NIGHT, IN HIS PERSONALLY OWNED HELICOPTER. DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK TREES AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 60 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL, WITH 40 HOURS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND. THE PILOT'S LAST THIRD CLASS MEDICAL WAS ISSUED 3 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WITH THE RESTRICTIONS, 'NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLYING OR BY COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 460 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 360 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,900 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 1, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 B/J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:30 am
- Destination: BVY Beverly MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from BOS, 15 miles away
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.