Bell 206B accident near Harlem, Montana, June 20, 1993
On June 20, 1993 at about 2:30 am local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N33EA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harlem, Montana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER REFUELING SYSTEM PROCEDURES WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO CONTAMINATE THE AIRCRAFT FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1993 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Harlem, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N33EA · no longer on the register · serial 2255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS FUELED WITH THE LAST 25 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL TRUCK AND THEN DEPARTED ON A SPRAY DISPERSAL FLIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET AGL AND 60-70 MPH DURING A SWATH RUN, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A 'QUICK STOP' DURING WHICH THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE LOW POINT DRAIN FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN FROM THE FUEL TRUCK. A FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN FROM THE PRESSURE SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER'S AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER SYSTEM REVEALED APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT WATER. WHEN THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL TANK WAS DEFUELED, THE OWNER RETRIEVED APPROXIMATELY 2.5 GALLONS OF WATER OUT OF A 40 GALLON QUANTITY.
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: 16,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Observation at 2:29 am from HVR, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.