Bell 206B III accident near Syracuse, Utah, July 24, 1994
On July 24, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N820CW, was destroyed in an accident near Syracuse, Utah. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Syracuse, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N820CW · no longer on the register · serial 2948
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DROPPING OFF PASSENGERS, THE HELICOPTER WAS LAST SEEN FLYING NORTHEASTERLY TO RETURN TO ITS HOME BASE. RADAR DATA IDENTIFIED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT 100 TO 200 FEET ABOVE WATER LEVEL WHEN THE TARGET SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. A PORTION OF THE LOWER FUSELAGE AND SKIDS WHERE RETRIEVED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE LANDING SKIDS.
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: 9,247 hours in all; 3,506 in this make and model; 217 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,354 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 1994; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Services Of Utah
The flight
- Departed from: Antelope Island UT at 11:28 pm
- Destination: BTF Bountiful UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 600 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from OGD, 10 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.