Brantly Helicopter B-2 accident near Milton Freewtr., Oregon, May 4, 1983
On May 4, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Brantly Helicopter B-2, registered N5912X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milton Freewtr., Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- May 4, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Milton Freewtr., Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantly Helicopter B-2
- Registration
- N5912X · registry record · serial 48
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO ABOUT 50-75 FT AGL & THEN SOMETHING FLEW OFF THE ACFT. ONE M/R BLADE WAS FOUND INTACT 240 FT FROM THE WRECKAGE. THE OUTER BLADE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED AT THE TIP AREA. THE INBOARD BLADE SECTION HAD THE PYLON TUBE ATTACHED TO IT. THE FLANGE END OF THE PYLON TUBE WAS BENT, & ABOUT 50% OF THE FLANGE ITSELF WAS MISSING. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED AN OVERSTRESS TENSILE SEPARATION. THE PLT DID NOT HOLD ANY PLT CERTIFICATE. HE PURCHASED THEHELICOPTER FEBRUARY TO HOVER OVER HIS CHERRY ORCHARDS UTILIZING THE ROTOR DOWN WASH TO KNOCK WATER OFF THE FRUIT. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED ABOUT 15 HRS OF TRAINING SINCE HE PURCHASED THE HELICOPTER.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 1983; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.