NTSB investigations: Bell 206B

28 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 206B, where the sequence of events included Hard landing. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations: Bell 206B per year, 2008–2026: 28 cases
20081
20091
20102
20112
20122
20131
20143
20151
20174
20183
20211
20223
20231
20242
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB ERA25LA156Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Chamblee, GAThe pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion.Mar 21, 2025 · N5QV · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA059Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Lakeland, FLThe 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.Nov 21, 2024 · N422RH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA172Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Baton Rouge, LAThe pilot’s loss of control during takeoff that resulted in a hard landing.Mar 26, 2024 · N67183 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA269Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Orlando, FLThe pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.Jun 5, 2023 · N27UK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA025Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Greenville, ILThe 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.Nov 3, 2022 · N61KH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA004Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Fresno, CAThe disbond of a tail rotor drive shaft splined adapter, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor drive and a subsequent hard landing.Oct 1, 2022 · N284CA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA337Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Pelion, SCThe pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation.Jun 18, 2022 · N515TV · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA275Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Rome, NYThe 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.Jun 29, 2021 · N134VG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA260Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Bentley, ILThe 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.Jul 6, 2018 · N224KM · Substantial damageNTSB ERA18LA183Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Rio Grande, PRA total loss of engine power due to oil exhaustion, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and hard landing.Jun 30, 2018 · N10CV · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA164Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Sanders, KYA 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.Jun 5, 2018 · N518Z · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA029Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Rolling Fork, MSAn uncommanded yaw and subsequent loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined.Nov 7, 2017 · N93PH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA020Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Groom, TXThe 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.Oct 24, 2017 · N60EA · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA369Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Entiat, WAThe 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.Jun 26, 2017 · N183TC · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA218Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · La Verne, CAThe 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.Apr 6, 2017 · N206SA · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15LA296Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Ozark, ALThe 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.Sep 24, 2015 · N49660 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA15LA060Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · West Palm Beach, FLA hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.Oct 25, 2014 · N418SV · Substantial damageNTSB ERA15CA018Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Prattville, ALThe pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Oct 16, 2014 · N59541 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15LA002Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Woodsboro, TXThe 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.Oct 2, 2014 · N49746 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA158Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B III · Ponderosa, NMA 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.Feb 11, 2013 · N360AW · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12LA426Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206 - B · Mammoth Lakes, CAThe 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.Sep 19, 2012 · N222GR · DestroyedNTSB CEN12LA141Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Irving, TXA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.Jan 22, 2012 · N555NB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11CA243Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B3 · Glendale, AZThe certified flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during the autorotation.May 27, 2011 · N59383 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11CA101Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B3 · Three Forks, MTThe pilot’s inadequate use of throttle during the practice autorotation that resulted in a hard landing.Jan 15, 2011 · N78BR · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA428Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · New Hampton, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.Jul 23, 2010 · N40TA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10TA292Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 206B · Memphis, TNThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.May 30, 2010 · N6401X · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10LA032Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Eupora, MSA loss of engine power due to fuel contamination of the helicopter’s fuel supply.Oct 25, 2009 · N57PH · DestroyedNTSB ERA09LA047Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Boynton Beach, FLA loss of engine power due to an undertorqued air line fitting to the fuel control.Nov 11, 2008 · N281CB · Substantial damage