NTSB investigations: Bell 206B

31 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 206B, where the defining event was Low altitude operation/event. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations: Bell 206B per year, 2008–2026: 31 cases
20081
20105
20112
20133
20161
20171
20181
20194
20201
20212
20221
20233
20244
20252

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1181511')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '220'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CEN25LA396Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Archer City, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while herding livestock.Sep 27, 2025 · N565VA · DestroyedNTSB CEN25LA266Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell B206-B · Bloomington, ILThe pilot’s failure to avoid power lines during an aerial application flight.Jul 18, 2025 · N975TR · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA368Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Lexington, NEThe pilot’s failure to maintain proper clearance from powerlines.Sep 25, 2024 · N92PH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA287Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportBell 206 · Nashua, IAOn July 29, 2024 about 1330 central standard time, a Bell 206-B3 Helicopter, N94XA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Nashua, Iowa. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part…Jul 29, 2024 · N94XA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA276Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Cornland, ILThe pilot was unable to see a wire due to the setting sun and the helicopter subsequently struck the wire.Jul 21, 2024 · N26UK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA275Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Cuba City, WIThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application pass.Jul 21, 2024 · N67110 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA342Accident · 1 fatalClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Denison, IAThe pilot’s inflight distraction, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid wires.Jul 30, 2023 · N231RL · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA307Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Terra Alta, WVThe pilot’s inability to maneuver the helicopter for recovery after experiencing a strong, unanticipated tailwind in a confined operating area, which resulted in a descent and subsequent impact with terrain.Jul 21, 2023 · N9913K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA279Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Chapman, KSThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power line during an agricultural application pass.Jul 5, 2023 · N67FA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA206Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Lake Apopka, FLA collision with water following a loss of visual reference to the water surface due to sun glare.Apr 26, 2022 · N206BX · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA356Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Corydon, INThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines.Aug 4, 2021 · N59552 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA130Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Laton, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during low-altitude maneuvering.Mar 13, 2021 · N161BH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA331Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Randle, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while conducting an external load operation.Sep 9, 2020 · N91TA · DestroyedNTSB ERA20FA012Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 206 · New Salem, NCThe pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in impact with a powerline.Oct 17, 2019 · N167AG · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA457Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · Dukedom, TNThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.Jul 27, 2019 · N454MS · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA278Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · Pittsfield, ILThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain during agricultural application operations.May 23, 2019 · N158H · Substantial damageNTSB WPR19TA061Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3Final reportBell 206 · Yuma, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission wires while flying at low altitude in nighttime conditions.Jan 12, 2019 · N88HC · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA352Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · Orondo, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.Jun 17, 2018 · N2762P · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA402Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · Uniontown, KYThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation from power lines, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.Jun 30, 2017 · N60KH · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA165Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Hanford, CAThe pilot's decision to release the collective while flying at 10 feet above ground level, resulting in the rapid helicopter descent and impact with terrain.Mar 26, 2016 · N52Q · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13LA358Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Chualar, CAMaintenance personnel's failure to properly tighten the bolts securing the main driveshaft to the transmission, which resulted in fatigue failure of the bolts and disconnection of the driveshaft during low-altitude flight.Aug 4, 2013 · N90146 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13CA204Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Wells, NVThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while maneuvering at a low altitude.Apr 20, 2013 · N4237M · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13GA128Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell 206B · Eureka, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire while maneuvering during low-altitude operations. Contributing to the accident was task- and/or work-related fatigue.Feb 18, 2013 · N20620 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11LA646Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Spicewood, TXThe pilot did not maintain adequate rotor rpm during a low-altitude maneuvering flight.Sep 15, 2011 · N3181J · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA509Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Temple, OKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from static power lines.Jul 23, 2011 · N118TV · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11LA083Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Isom, KYThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard during an aerial observation flight.Dec 10, 2010 · N263CH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA053Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Meeker, COThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from electrical power lines during the low-altitude flight.Nov 3, 2010 · N8533F · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11LA016Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Auburn, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line during flight.Oct 14, 2010 · N2763M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA446Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206 · St. Olaf, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during the agricultural flight.Jul 28, 2010 · N275RA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA428Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · New Hampton, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.Jul 23, 2010 · N40TA · Substantial damageNTSB SEA08CA091Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Oxnard, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during an aerial application.Mar 11, 2008 · N7028J · Substantial damage