Bell 206B III accident near Lewiston, Idaho, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N2756Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewiston, Idaho. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lewiston, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N2756Y · no longer on the register · serial 2710
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS INTIATED ON SLOPING TERRAIN. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND ROLLED OVER. THE WRECKAGE WAS REMOVED FOR INSPECTION. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PERFORMED WITH NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,336 hours in all; 2,957 in this make and model; 4,607 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LWS Lewiston ID at 6:20 pm
- Destination: MYL Mccall ID
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.