NTSB investigations: Bell 206L-3

8 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 206L-3, where the sequence of events included Loss of control in flight. 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

20092026
NTSB investigations: Bell 206L-3 per year, 2009–2026: 8 cases
20091
20131
20151
20212
20242
20261

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 ('1182108')
      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"

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 WPR26LA086Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Logsden, ORThe inadvertent entanglement of a long line with the skid, which resulted in a loss of flight control. Contributing to the accident was the use of nylon lines instead of steel cables to secure the bucket.Jan 15, 2026 · N868H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA259Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Thorntown, INThe pilot’s failure to ensure that the load hose was disconnected from the helicopter before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control after liftoff and a hard landing.Jul 8, 2024 · N206WX · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA094Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 206 · Hydro, OKThe helicopter’s inflight collision with cackling geese, resulting in an inflight breakup.Jan 21, 2024 · N295AE · DestroyedNTSB CEN21LA432Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Berlin, ILThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter with a stuck skid, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.Jul 9, 2021 · N170AM · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA133Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Lucerne Valley, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering with a tailwind, resulting in the helicopter spinning and colliding with terrain.Mar 16, 2021 · N6133C · Substantial damageNTSB ERA15LA218Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Kearny, NJThe deliberate concealment and reuse of an unairworthy tail rotor driveshaft by unknown personnel, which resulted in an overstress separation at a bonded flange adapter as a result of driveshaft imbalance.May 20, 2015 · N210MH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13LA303Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Missoula, 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 · N868H · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09CA485Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206L-3 · White Plains, NYThe pilot's failure to disconnect the ground power unit prior to takeoff.Aug 26, 2009 · N22ZA · Substantial damage