# NTSB WPR26LA086: Bell 206L-3, N868H, Logsden, OR, January 15, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 15, 2026, 08:37 local (16:37 UTC) - Place: Logsden, OR - Coordinates: 44, -123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0000&lon=-123.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202320 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202320/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202320 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA086 ## Probable cause The 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 206L-3, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1182108), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an aerial application reconnaissance flight, the helicopter departed with a fertilizer bucket attached which was held on by three nylon lines. As the helicopter lifted off and climbed out, the pilot noticed initially that all three nylon lines were hanging downward and moving appropriately with the bucket. The pilot continued to climb out and turned slightly to the right, away from obstacles. However, at this time, the pilot realized that the helicopter was not responding correctly to his flight control inputs. Looking in the mirror, he noticed that the bucket was hanging at a 45° angle and that one of the nylon lines connected to the bucket was wrapped over the right front skid and up against the cross-tube. The helicopter remained in a constant right turn and the pilot struggled to maintain control. He then attempted to release the bucket, but subsequently the helicopter impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation. He further stated that the nylon lines used to secure the bucket were lighter weight than the steel cable lines normally used and moved substantially in the airflow. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N868H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N868H), registered now, S/N 51318, built 1989 (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-C20](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20) (registry code 03080, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51318 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 8463.8 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 137 - Operator: Weyerhaeuser Nr Co - Registered owner: Weyerhaeuser Nr Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 28, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,344 total, 141 in this make and model, 14,499 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft indefinitevv - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KEUG, 12 nm away - METAR: KEUG 151654Z 12003KT 1/2SM FG VV002 02/02 A3039 RMK AO2 SLP295 T00170017 RVRNO $ ## 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 20260115000099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260115000099A), Jan 15, 2026: Bell 206L-3, Logsden, OR, Destroyed. An interview of the PIC revealed the following. The accident occurred at the beginning of a part 137 operation using a hopper/bucket to spread fertilizer. The… ## Other investigations on N868H (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR13LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA303), Jun 28, 2013: Bell 206L-3 (N868H), Missoula, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202320. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20231026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Final%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 963 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20231036&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA086%20Accident%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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.