Bell 214B1 accident near Lowell, Oregon, February 19, 1985
On February 19, 1985 at about 1:25 am local time, a Bell 214B1 (helicopter), registered N314RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lowell, Oregon. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- February 19, 1985 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Lowell, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 214B1 · all 214B1s on the register
- Registration
- N314RM · no longer on the register · serial 28041
- 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 COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN DURING AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION LANDING ATTEMPT FOLLOWING A REPORTED ENG OVERSPEED. THE CREW REPORTED THERE WAS AN INDICATION OF ENG OVERSPEED WHICH THEY COULD NOT CONTROL. POST ACC EXAMINATIONREVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF OVERSPEED OR FAILURE OF ANY CONTROL DEVICES THAT WOULD MATERIALLY HAVE AFFECTED THE FLT CREWS ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ENG RPM AT THE PROPER AND/OR DESIRED RATE. ROTOR RPM DECAY WAS ALSO REPORTED BY THE FLT CREW EVEN WITH THE ENG AT THE REPORTED HIGH RPM. NO REASON FOR THE ALLEGED CONDITION WAS FOUND IN CONTINUITY OF THE PWR TRAIN IN AN EXAMINATION OF THE POWERPLANT & DRIVE TRAIN AFTER ENG SHUT DOWN BY GROUND PERSONNEL.
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: 2,931 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,282 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 11, 1985; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T5508D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N314RM 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.