# Fatal NTSB investigations: Bell 206L-3 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 ERA25FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA005.md): Bell 206L-3 · Owenton, KY · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Oct 7, 2024 · N230AE · Destroyed > On October 7, 2024, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206L3+, N230AE, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Owenton, Kentucky. The pilot, a flight nurse, and a flight medic were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated by Air Evac Life… - [NTSB CEN24FA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA094.md): Bell 206 · Hydro, OK · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 21, 2024 · N295AE · Destroyed > The helicopter’s inflight collision with cackling geese, resulting in an inflight breakup. - [NTSB WPR20LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA163.md): Bell 206 · Fairfield, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 2, 2020 · N65PJ · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines while conducting external load operations, which resulted in the main rotor contacting a wire and a subsequent collision with terrain. - [NTSB WPR19LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA071.md): Bell 206 · Ashland, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 23, 2019 · N8227J · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and spatial disorientation leading to a loss of control. - [NTSB CEN17FA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA355.md): Bell 206L 3 · Ancho, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 16, 2017 · N213TV · Destroyed > The pilot's distraction by a cell phone during a low-altitude flight, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB CEN14FA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA122.md): Bell 206L 3 · Silt, CO · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 27, 2014 · N207DS · Destroyed > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning for a low-level aerial surveillance flight of power transmission lines, which led to his being unaware of the crossing power line while flying toward the sun and his subsequent failure to maintain sufficient clearance… - [NTSB CEN14FA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA004.md): Bell 206L 3 · Venice, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2013 · N54LP · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to the liberation of a second stage turbine blade near the blade root due to a high-cycle fatigue crack and subsequent overload. Although extensive testing and materials analysis was performed, the reason for crack initiation… - [NTSB NYC08FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08FA071.md): Bell 206L-3 · Cherokee, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 30, 2007 · N109AE · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an out-of-ground-effect hover. Contributing to the accident was a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. - [NTSB DFW06IA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06IA145.md): Bell 206L-3 · Grand Isle 43AA · Incident · 1 fatal · Incident investigation · Final report · May 30, 2006 · N92MT · No damage > The pilot's incapacitation and death due to pre-existing cardiac disease. - [NTSB DFW06FAMS1](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06FAMS1.md): Bell 206-L3 · Gulf of Mexico · Accident · 3 fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report · Oct 6, 2005 · N6560K · Destroyed > Undetermined. The aircraft is missing. - [NTSB FTW04FA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA007.md): Bell 206L-3 · W. Cameron 509 · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2003 · N81671 · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of control following an inadvertent encounter with adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors were the prevailing thunderstorms, the low ceilings, and the miscommunication between the pilot and the company's communication center in… - [NTSB CHI03FA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA259.md): Bell 206L-3 · E.I. 276, LA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 13, 2003 · N41128 · Substantial damage > The inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions and the directional control not obtained/maintained by the pilot during takeoff. Contributing factors were the crosswind and the planned approach to position the helicopter with a crosswind in order to… - [NTSB LAX03GA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03GA244.md): Bell 206L-3 · Whiteriver, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Final report · Jul 26, 2003 · N6184D · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain a minimum translational lift airspeed while maneuvering in high density altitude conditions at near maximum required torque and above the in ground effect hover altitude, that resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and… - [NTSB ATL98FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98FA080.md): Bell 206L-3 · Indian Trail, NC · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 25, 1998 · N96CW · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude while operating in adverse weather. A contributing factor was the incoming fog and high tension static wire. - [NTSB FTW95FA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA308.md): Bell 206-L3 · Borger, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 1995 · N111JA · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of control due to an encounter with a dust devil/whirlwind and the turbulence and high wind associated with thunderstorm outflow. - [NTSB FTW95FA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA186.md): Bell 206L-3 · Venice, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 2, 1995 · N347AL · Destroyed > Loss of engine power due to ingestion of exhaust fumes from an oil platform flare boom. - [NTSB FTW94GA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94GA232.md): Bell 206L-3 · Mimbres, NM · Accident · 3 fatal · Final report · Jul 12, 1994 · N3178B · Destroyed > The pilot's improper decision to attempt to hover out of ground effect under adverse conditions while exceeding the maximum allowable weight for that maneuver. Factors in the accident were: high density altitude and the tailwind. - [NTSB MIA94FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94FA053.md): Bell 206L3 · Arcadia, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 15, 1994 · N86CE · Destroyed > The pilot-in-command's improper supervision of an unqualified pilot while attempting a takeoff to a hover. This resulted in an on ground loss of control (dynamic roll over). The improper flight control input (cyclic and collective) by the unqualified pilot… - [NTSB FTW92FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92FA112.md): Bell 206L-3 · Venice, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 9, 1992 · N6610L · Destroyed > The pilot's incapacitation due to food poisoning. - [NTSB DEN89MA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89MA130.md): Bell 206L-3 · Big Timber, MT · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jun 2, 1989 · N76KM · Destroyed > Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the terrain. Contributing factors were: dark night, pilot's visual perception, inadequate initial training of the pilot… - [NTSB DEN89FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA019.md): Bell 206L-3 · Deckers, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 19, 1988 · N99TV · Destroyed > While on a corporate flt thru a canyon in marginal wx conds, the helicopter collided with the static portion of a power transmission line & crashed. The acdnt occurred where a 2,554 ft span of the power line crossed the south platte river. The power line… - [NTSB FTW83FA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA097.md): Bell 206L-3 · Goliad, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 21, 1983 · N3899U · Destroyed > The helicopter collided with trees and the ground in an attempt to reverse directions at low alt & at night after encountering weather. The plt had received a weather briefing and knew the weather was bad with low ceilings and fog. Heradioed he could make it… ## 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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1182108')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?fatal=1&model=1182108 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.