# NTSB WPR26LA347: Bell 206B-III, N50141, Creswell, NC, September 18, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 18, 2026, 10:18 local (14:18 UTC)
- Place: Creswell, NC
- Coordinates: 35.90155, -76.42325
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9016&lon=-76.4232&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA347
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203850/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA347

## Preliminary report

On September 18, 2026, at 1018 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B-III, N50141, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Creswell, North Carolina. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the pilot, the helicopter was 40-50 ft above the ground on approach to land when he heard a “whooshing” noise and noticed the engine lost partial power and main rotor RPM had begun to decay. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom. The engine continued to operate after landing until it was shut down normally by the pilot. The helicopter was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206B-III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1181506), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50141](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50141), registered now, S/N 2603, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B-III
- Registry model: [Bell 206B-III](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b-iii) (registry code 1181506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2603
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 12729.7
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Greenwood Helicopters Inc
- Registered owner: Greenwood Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 7, 2026
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 80 °F, dew point 65 °F

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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