Brantly 305 accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, October 23, 1982
On October 23, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Brantly 305 (helicopter), registered N16616, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- October 23, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantly 305
- Registration
- N16616 · no longer on the register · serial 1005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TAIL SKID HIT THE GROUND HARD DURING LANDING. THIS CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO BOUNCE, AND THE LEFT WHEEL CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TURN SIDEWAYS. THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED THE TAIL ROTOR, DESTROYING BOTH TAIL AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 137 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 686 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-540-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hillsboro OR at 1:45 pm
- Destination: Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.