# NTSB ERA26LA285: Bell 206L-3, N29AE, Tuscumbia, AL, July 29, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 29, 2026, 10:08 local (15:08 UTC) - Place: Tuscumbia, AL - Coordinates: 34.727147, -87.703227 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7271&lon=-87.7032&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203515/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203515 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA285 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to keep the tail rotor clear of an obstacle while attempting to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was making a right pedal turn in an attempt to land on the helipad when the tail rotor struck a standpipe on the fuel farm. The helicopter began to become unstable, but the pilot immediately lowered the collective and the helicopter landed upright on the helipad. Neither the pilot nor the two crew members were injured. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed damage to the tail rotor blades and substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29AE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29AE), registered now, S/N 51191, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206L-3 - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51191 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 20371 - Engines: Rolls Royce RR-250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Air Evac Ems Inc, doing business as Air Evac Lifeteam - Registered owner: Air Evac Ems Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 27, 2026 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,888.6 total, 752 in this make and model, 2,823 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 3.9 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MSL, 4.7 nm away ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203515. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20760645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Written statement - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20759772&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Written statements - crew (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20760625&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Written%20Statements%20-%20Crew_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 904 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20760067&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Surveillance video courtesy air evac (item 5, MP4, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20905778&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=video%20AEL%20016%20%20Tuscumbia%20AL%202026-07-29%2010-06-07-Rel.mp4 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. --- 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.