# NTSB SEA79FA031: Bell 214B-1, N226RM, Darby, MT, April 19, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 19, 1979
- Place: Darby, MT · DARBY, MT
- Location: 46.0245° N, 114.1797° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Darby, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0245&lon=-114.1797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136291
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FA031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FA031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1214  79/4/19  NR.DARBY,MT           BELL 214B-1         CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 5114
        TIME - 1345                    N226RM              PX-  0  0  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, 1745 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         DARBY,MT                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- EXTERNAL LOAD OVER MAX GROSS WT. PLT JETTISONED LOG,M/R BLADES FLEXED INTO & SEPARATED TAIL BOOM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N226RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N226RM-1981-12-21), registration cancelled 1981-12-21, S/N 28020, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 214B-1
- Registry model: [Bell 214B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-214b-1) (registry code 1182105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790419015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790419015669A), Apr 19, 1979: Bell 214B1, Darby, MT, Destroyed. Pilot released sling load. Weight decrease caused rotor to flex and sever the tail of the heliopter. Over gross wgt

## Other investigations on N226RM (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN77FTE74](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FTE74), Aug 13, 1977: Bell 214B-1 (N226RM), Silverthorne, CO, no damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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