# NTSB investigations: Bell 206B: Loss of control in flight

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 CEN25LA396](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA396.md): Bell 206 · Archer City, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 27, 2025 · N565VA · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while herding livestock.
- [NTSB ERA25LA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA338.md): Bell 206 · Monroe, GA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Sep 10, 2025 · N992MR · Destroyed
  > On September 10, 2025, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206, N992MR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Monroe, Geogia. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code…
- [NTSB ANC24FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA089.md): Bell 206B · King Salmon, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 7, 2024 · N306FW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to initiate the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation, failure to maintain helicopter control and subsequent impact with water.
- [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 GAA24WA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA24WA180.md): Bell 206 · Revelstoke BC, Canada · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Jan 6, 2024 · N617TT · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR23LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA214.md): Bell 206B · Filer, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 3, 2023 · N205PA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper anti-torque pedal inputs during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and subsequent dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB WPR22LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA221.md): Bell 206B · Stockton, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 17, 2022 · N90326 · Substantial damage
  > Tail rotor blade impact with an unidentified object, which resulted in the loss of control and subsequent rollover of the helicopter.
- [NTSB CEN22FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA053.md): Bell 206 · Perry, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 28, 2021 · N59600 · Destroyed
  > A loss of lateral control during a hover that resulted in an impact with terrain. Based on the available evidence, the reason for the loss of lateral control could not be determined.
- [NTSB CEN22LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA009.md): Bell 206 · Gonzales, LA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 6, 2021 · N373SP · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to compensate for an unanticipated right yaw, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and helicopter control.
- [NTSB ERA21LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA028.md): Bell 206 · Point Lookout, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 21, 2020 · N716VL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to depart on a visual flight rules flight, and to continue that flight into forecasted and deteriorating instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in a helicopter that was not equipped for flight in IMC, which resulted in the pilot’s…
- [NTSB CEN20LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA328.md): Bell 206 · Marathon, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 8, 2020 · N284S · Destroyed
  > The in-flight loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB WPR20CA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA162.md): Bell 206 · Elko, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · May 30, 2020 · N401HP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control in gusting wind that resulted in a loss in altitude and subsequent collision with a fence.
- [NTSB GAA18CA512](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA512.md): Bell 206 · Battle Mountain, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Aug 18, 2018 · N8052G · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude and airspeed while flying in a canyon in gusting wind conditions.
- [NTSB WPR18LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA214.md): Bell 206 · Basin City, WA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 7, 2018 · N607RA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper execution of a slowing and turning maneuver, which resulted in a loss of control at an altitude that was too low for recovery.
- [NTSB CEN18LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA290.md): Bell 206 · Todd Mission, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 20, 2018 · N352CT · Substantial damage
  > The passenger’s inadvertent interference with the tail rotor pedals, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and the subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA17CA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA402.md): Bell 206 · Uniontown, KY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 30, 2017 · N60KH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation from power lines, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB ERA17TA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17TA170.md): Bell 206 · Orange Springs, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · May 2, 2017 · N911GE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance between the helicopter's skid and the firefighting bucket and suspension cable, which resulted in the cable becoming entangled on the landing skid and a subsequent loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB GAA16CA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA405.md): Bell 206 · Outlook, WA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 29, 2016 · N1087N · Destroyed
  > The pilot and ground crew's failure to visually inspect the helicopter's skids before takeoff, which resulted in a water hose becoming entangled on the right skid, a loss of control, an impact with terrain, and a post-crash fire.
- [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 ANC15CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA012.md): Bell 206B · Palmer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 10, 2015 · N86TA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control while hovering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with frozen lake ice. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the helicopter from the left seat contrary to the rotorcraft flight…
- [NTSB CEN14CA525](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA525.md): Bell 206B · Nashoba, OK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 25, 2014 · N152CA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of directional control due a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB WPR13LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA287.md): Bell 206B · Royal City, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 24, 2013 · N407FK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from netting material during a low pass over trees, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB CEN12LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA267.md): Bell 206B · Valley Falls, KS · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 2, 2012 · N85RB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during a hover maneuver, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB CEN12LA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA258.md): Bell 206B · Amarillo, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 26, 2012 · N2068X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during landing in gusty wind conditions associated with a thunderstorm, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB WPR11TA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11TA274.md): Bell 206B · Franklin, CA · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Jun 21, 2011 · N38EA · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the practice autorotation.
- [NTSB CEN11GA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11GA020.md): Bell 206B · Clarkson Valley, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Oct 15, 2010 · N96MP · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and decision-making, and his improper control inputs following the loss of engine power, which resulted in mast bumping and separation of the…
- [NTSB CEN11LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA023.md): Bell 206B · Newton, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2010 · N499BH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s attempted takeoff with the fuel hose attached to the helicopter and the pilot and ground crew’s failure to accurately communicate.
- [NTSB WPR10CA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA100.md): Bell 206B · Kalispell, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 7, 2010 · N127TP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain lateral drift control during landing.
- [NTSB WPR09CA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA338.md): Bell 206B · Burlington, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 11, 2009 · N302PD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to lift off from a trailer. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and rolled over.
- [NTSB WPR09LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA010.md): Bell 206B · Cougar, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2008 · N206CH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between his external load and trees while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident were hilly terrain and trees.
- [NTSB SEA08LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA213.md): Bell 206B · Woods Landing-Jelm, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 27, 2008 · N59611 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's encounter with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness event and his failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident were the tailwind condition and the sloping, uneven terrain.
- [NTSB NYC08CA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA309.md): Bell 206B · Eutaw, AL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 9, 2008 · N206WA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

## 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" = '240' 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/240/sequence?model=1181511

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