Bell UH-1B accident near Pilot Rock, Oregon, July 17, 1994
On July 17, 1994 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N9645A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pilot Rock, Oregon. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1994 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pilot Rock, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9645A · no longer on the register · serial 303
- 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 27000 HOUR HELICOPTER PILOT RECALLED THE AIRCRAFT ROTATING COUNTERCLOCKWISE AROUND ITS VERTICAL AXIS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. HE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER NEAR HIS LOGGING CREW FOR RESCUE AFTER THE IMMINENT CRASH, AND RECALLED THAT THE PEDALS WOULD NOT MOVE, OR THAT THE LEFT PEDAL APPEARED TO BE STUCK. NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL DEFICIENCY WAS DISCOVERED DURING THE POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, OR COMPONENT INSPECTION OR DISASSEMBLY.
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: 27,000 hours in all; 6,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,635 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 16, 1994; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L13B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.