# NTSB investigations: Bell 206B: Hard landing

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA25LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA156.md): Bell 206 · Chamblee, GA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 21, 2025 · N5QV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA25LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA059.md): Bell 206B · Lakeland, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 21, 2024 · N422RH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a tailwind approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, an uncommanded spin, and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN24LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA172.md): Bell 206B · Baton Rouge, LA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 26, 2024 · N67183 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff that resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA23LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA269.md): Bell 206B · Orlando, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 5, 2023 · N27UK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN23LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA025.md): Bell 206 · Greenville, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 3, 2022 · N61KH · Substantial damage
  > The mechanic’s failure to inspect and clean the entire fuel nozzle assembly in accordance with the engine maintenance manual, which resulted in fuel starvation and a partial loss of engine power, an autorotation, and a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR23LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA004.md): Bell 206B · Fresno, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 1, 2022 · N284CA · Substantial damage
  > The disbond of a tail rotor drive shaft splined adapter, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor drive and a subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA22LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA337.md): Bell 206B · Pelion, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 18, 2022 · N515TV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation.
- [NTSB ERA21LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA275.md): Bell 206 · Rome, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 29, 2021 · N134VG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper termination of a practice autorotation with power recovery, which resulted in low rotor rpm, an unstable landing, and a rollover. Contributing to the accident was the evaluator's inadequate oversight.
- [NTSB CEN18LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA260.md): Bell 206 · Bentley, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 6, 2018 · N224KM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to ensure that adequate fuel was on board for the maneuvering flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ERA18LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA183.md): Bell 206 · Rio Grande, PR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 2018 · N10CV · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to oil exhaustion, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR18LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA164.md): Bell 206 · Sanders, KY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 5, 2018 · N518Z · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and a loss of main rotor rpm during the subsequent autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR18LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA029.md): Bell 206 · Rolling Fork, MS · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 7, 2017 · N93PH · Substantial damage
  > An uncommanded yaw and subsequent loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB CEN18LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA020.md): Bell 206B · Groom, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 24, 2017 · N60EA · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the helicopter with minimum fuel on board.
- [NTSB GAA17CA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA369.md): Bell 206B · Entiat, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 26, 2017 · N183TC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to secure a loose item inside the cockpit that interfered with antitorque pedal control and led to a loss of helicopter control due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB GAA17CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA218.md): Bell 206 · La Verne, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 6, 2017 · N206SA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s early increased application of the collective during a simulated hovering autorotation, which resulted in a loss of rotor rpm and subsequent main rotor blade strike of the tailboom.
- [NTSB GAA15LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA296.md): Bell 206 · Ozark, AL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2015 · N49660 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while hovering, which resulted in the helicopter's skid impacting terrain, subsequent abnormal airframe vibrations, and a hard landing during the subsequent hovering autorotation.
- [NTSB ERA15LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA060.md): Bell 206B · West Palm Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 25, 2014 · N418SV · Substantial damage
  > A hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB ERA15CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA018.md): Bell 206B · Prattville, AL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 16, 2014 · N59541 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN15LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA002.md): Bell 206B · Woodsboro, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 2, 2014 · N49746 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to recognize and correct for flight conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in a rapid, uncommanded right yaw and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN13LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA158.md): Bell 206B III · Ponderosa, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 11, 2013 · N360AW · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB WPR12LA426](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA426.md): Bell 206 - B · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 2012 · N222GR · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain sufficient main rotor rpm while maneuvering in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in a precautionary landing and subsequent rollover.
- [NTSB CEN12LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA141.md): Bell 206B · Irving, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 22, 2012 · N555NB · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.
- [NTSB WPR11CA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA243.md): Bell 206B3 · Glendale, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 27, 2011 · N59383 · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during the autorotation.
- [NTSB WPR11CA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA101.md): Bell 206B3 · Three Forks, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 15, 2011 · N78BR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate use of throttle during the practice autorotation that resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN10CA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA428.md): Bell 206B · New Hampton, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 23, 2010 · N40TA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.
- [NTSB ERA10TA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10TA292.md): Bell 206B · Memphis, TN · Accident · No injuries · Final report · May 30, 2010 · N6401X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA10LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA032.md): Bell 206 · Eupora, MS · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 25, 2009 · N57PH · Destroyed
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination of the helicopter’s fuel supply.
- [NTSB ERA09LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA047.md): Bell 206B · Boynton Beach, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 11, 2008 · N281CB · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to an undertorqued air line fitting to the fuel control.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1181511')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '092' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence?model=1181511

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