20130628011389A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-3 · Missoula, MT · June 28, 2013

Date: June 28, 2013 · 12:30 local
Place: Missoula, MT
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Operator: GFLL
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N868H
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR13LA303
Reported as: Bell 206L-3
Reported engine: Allison 250-C20 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 16,280 total4,000 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N868HRegistered now · Bell 206L-3S/N 51318 · Built 1989 Airframe modelBell 206L-3 Engine modelAllison 250-C20Turbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On June 28, 2013, at 1230 MST, a Bell helicopter 206-L3, N868H, crashed while conducting a performance demonstration to the forest service. Visual meterological conditions prevailed at the time. The aircraft was substantially damaged, and the pilot was injured. The flight originated at Missoula, Montana, on June 28, 2013 at 1230 MST.

As the FAA filed it

ON JUNE 28, 2013, AT 1230 MST, A BELL HELICOPTER 206-L3, N868H, CRASHED WHILE CONDUCTING A PERFORMANCE DEMONSTRATION TO THE FOREST SERVICE.VISUAL METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE PILOT WAS INJURED.THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT MISSOULA, MONTANA, ON JUNE 28, 2013 AT 1230 MST.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR13LA303Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMissoula, MTThe pilot's failure to prevent the helicopter from settling with power and to maintain proper position relative to an external load, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing.Jun 28, 2013 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N868H · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20260115000099ATakeoff: Departure Roll · Logsden, ORAn interview of the PIC revealed the following. The accident occurred at the beginning of a part 137 operation using a hopper/bucket to spread fertilizer. The pilot picked up to a hover, and as is standard practice, observed the chin-bubble mounted mirror…Jan 15, 2026 · Destroyed