Aviation Crash Map

Bell 206B N49573

4 February 1990 · Winthrop, Washington, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 4 February 1990 at about 18:30 local time, a Bell 206B registered N49573 was involved in an accident near Winthrop, Washington, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Winthrop, Washington, United States
Coordinates
48.4995, -120.3291
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Registration
N49573
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Mazama → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
SEA90LA040

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 0 0 0 4

Probable cause

WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. DARKNESS AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT TO TRANSPORT SKIERS TO A MOUNTAIN, THE PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT FOR LANDING. WHEN APPROXIMATELY 30 FT AGL, DESCENT WAS TERMINATED DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY FROM BLOWING SNOW. WHEN THE SNOW SETTLED, DESCENT WAS CONTINUED. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, VISIBILITY WAS AGAIN REDUCED AND THE PILOT LOST HIS REFERENCE POINT. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN LEFT SKID FIRST AND IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 206 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
19 Mar 1990 Bell 206B
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no coordinates
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10 Sep 1990 Bell 206B
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All 1,732 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Jan 1990 Cessna 177B
N35000
Friday Harbor, Washington, United States - No injuries -
1 Mar 1990 Bell BH-47G3B2
N4073G
Des Moines, Washington, United States Richard H. Butz Minor injuries -
25 Feb 1990 Cessna 140
N2197V
Vancouver, Washington, United States Bogar, Floyd No injuries -
12 Mar 1990 Cessna 150J
N5559G
Graham, Washington, United States - No injuries -
12 Mar 1990 Bell 206
N678KG
Cougar, Washington, United States Bluebird Helicopter No injuries -
12 Apr 1990 Becker BENSEN B8M
N87917
Burlington, Washington, United States Lawrence D. Becker Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States