# NTSB WPR25LA134: Bell 206B, N16671, Amboy, WA, April 15, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: April 14, 2025, 18:00 local (Apr 15, 2025, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Amboy, WA
- Coordinates: 45.93988, -122.37731
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9399&lon=-122.3773&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA134
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200020/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA134

## Preliminary report

On April 14, 2025, about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B, N16671, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Amboy, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had been operating the helicopter for about one hour, practicing takeoff and landings. While about 800 ft above ground level (agl), he felt a shudder and heard the engine sounding differently, followed by the engine chip detector light illuminating and the engine losing power. He entered an autorotation, turned right to an open field, and landed with about a 20-knot tailwind. During the landing sequence, the tail skid contacted the ground initially followed by the tailboom separating near the elevators. The helicopter came to rest balanced on the right skid, right elevator and one main rotor blade. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. A visual examination of the engine revealed damage to the compressor section. The helicopter was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181511), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16671](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16671), registered now, S/N 2087, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2087
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 5213.8
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 7, 2024, 0 hours before
- Departed: PVT, Portland, OR

## Weather

- Wind: 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KSPB, 23 nm away
- METAR: KSPB 150053Z AUTO 35003KT 10SM CLR 24/00 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP147 T02440000

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250414003389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250414003389A), Apr 14, 2025: Bell 206B, Battleground, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot departed the helipad at his residence near WA87 at approximately 1720 for a solo flight preparing for a private pilot check ride on April 14, 2025.…

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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