Bell 206B accident near Bridgeport, Washington, June 8, 2000
On June 8, 2000 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N49573, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, Washington. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Aircraft control was not maintained. Inadequate remedial action and diverted attention were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2000 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N49573 · no longer on the register · serial 1665
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after touching down in a gravel pit that was being used as a refueling staging area, he opened the door to looked to the rear to ensure that the tail rotors were clear of obstructions, and that the landing skids made full ground contact. When he looked back into the cockpit, the nose of the helicopter was coming up and the helicopter was rocking back on the skids. The pilot applied forward cyclic control, when he felt the aft end of the landing skids lift off. The pilot does not recall his corrective actions after this, only that everything was in motion. The helicopter subsequently rolled over and came to rest on its left side. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter at the time of the accident.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,550 hours in all; 5,388 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 14,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,210 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 7, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C-20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Orondo WA at 7:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from OMK, 22 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.
Other NTSB records under N49573 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.