Bell 205A-1 accident near Near Randle, Washington, June 6, 1983
On June 6, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bell 205A-1 (helicopter), registered N98HJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Randle, Washington. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Near Randle, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 205A-1 · all 205A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N98HJ · registry record · serial 30089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ENGAGED IN LOG SLINGING OPERATIONS AND HAD JUST RELEASED A LOAD AND INITIATED A CLIMB AWAY FROM THE SITE WHEN ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPOOL DOWN, ALTHOUGH THE PILOT WAS ABLE RETURN TO THE LOG-LANDINGAREA THERE WAS INSUFFICIENET ALTITUDE FOR AUTOROTATION AND A HARD LANDING OCCURRED. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD DISINTEGRATED.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,540 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 3, 1983; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T531-3B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from TDO, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA83LA119.