# NTSB CEN25LA408: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3, N17TL, Picayune, MS, August 22, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 22, 2025, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Picayune, MS
- Coordinates: 30.528231, -89.681587
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5282&lon=-89.6816&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO, Rolls Royce
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202581
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA408
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202581/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA408

## Preliminary report

On August 22, 2025, about 1130 central daylight time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3 helicopter, N17TL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Picayune, Mississippi. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The purpose of the flight was to inspect a hangar being built for the operator at the Picayune Municipal Airport in Picacyune, Mississippi. The pilot stated that he does a few practice maneuvers during each flight and on this flight, he was practicing a “quick stop” simulated emergency procedure. At the conclusion of the maneuver, while the pilot was pulling up on the collective to recover, he heard the low rotor RPM warning horn sound. The pilot verified that the throttle control was at full RPM; however, he noticed that the helicopter was no longer responding to the collective control. The pilot chose to immediately enter an autorotation from about 50 ft and when the helicopter contacted the taxiway, the left skid collapsed, the helicopter skidded about 15 ft, and came to a stop upright which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom. The accident was not reported to the NTSB until February 26, 2026. During the intervening period, the helicopter was sold for salvage by the accident owner’s insurance company, and the airframe was disassembled for repair by the new owner. Due to the current disposition of the airframe, examination is not feasible. The accident was not known to the FAA until the new owner attempted to register the helicopter with the FAA in January 2026. At the time of notification, only the Rolls-Royce 250-C30P turboshaft engine was able to be secured for further examination. The disposition of the turboshaft engine between the accident and its recovery for further examination could not be determined. The engine will be examined at a future date.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1182156), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17TL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17TL), registered now, S/N 51603, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 206L-3
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-canada-206l-3) (registry code 1182156) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C30P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30p) (registry code 54013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 51603
- Year built: 1992
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: 925dt LLC
- Registered owner: 925dt LLC
- Airport: MJD, Picayune Municipal

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KASD, 13 nm away
- METAR: KASD 221553Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 31/24 A2994 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT S SLP138 T03060244=

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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