NTSB investigations: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1

21 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, where the first occurrence was “In flight encounter with weather”. 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

19822026
NTSB investigations: Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 per year, 1982–2026: 21 cases
19821
19831
19843
19863
19883
19911
19931
19951
19971
19991
20001
20021
20041
20062

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 ('1182107')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 240))
  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 ANC06LA066Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Juneau, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain while maneuvering in adverse weather conditions. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's decision to continue flight into adverse weather, fog, whiteout and flat light…Jun 1, 2006 · N45RP · Substantial damageNTSB CHI06LA074Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Chesterfield, INThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after becoming spatially disorientated shortly after departure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation, his inadvertent flight into night instrument meteorological…Feb 2, 2006 · N593AE · DestroyedNTSB FTW04FA168Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206-L1 · Vermillion Bay, LAThe pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions resulting in a loss of control. Contributing factors were the prevailing thunderstorms and the pilot's inadequate in flight preparation and planning.Jun 24, 2004 · N5006F · DestroyedNTSB ATL02FA048Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · New Smyrna Bch., FLThe pilot continued visual flight into instrument conditions that resulted in the in-flight collision with trees. Factor were the pilot's alcohol impaired condition, and low cloud conditions.Feb 16, 2002 · N23PJ · DestroyedNTSB FTW01LA004Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206-L1 · Jasper, TXThe pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors were the fog and the pilot's lack of instrument flight experience.Oct 2, 2000 · N321CA · Substantial damageNTSB ANC99TA029Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Barrow, AKThe pilot's misjudged flare while landing. Factors associated with the accident were whiteout conditions, and the snow-covered terrain.Feb 24, 1999 · N785SR · Substantial damageNTSB FTW97LA114Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Jamaica Beach, TXThe pilot's encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, and his subsequent loss of aircraft control due to the loss of visual cues to detect his height above the water. Factors were the low ceilings and fog, and the loss of tail rotor effectiveness.Mar 4, 1997 · N5829D · DestroyedNTSB CHI95LA327Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L · Ware, ILthe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into IMC conditions.Sep 20, 1995 · N2777W · Substantial damageNTSB BFO94FA013Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Portland, METhe pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to assure that adequate fuel was available to complete the flight, resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Factors which contributed to the…Nov 20, 1993 · N911ME · DestroyedNTSB FTW91FA035Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · S Tim Blk 198For undetermined reason(s), the helicoper crashed at sea (gulf of Mexico) in an area with a low ceiling, rain, and thunderstorms.Jan 27, 1991 · N39HC · DestroyedNTSB MKC89FA043Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Cape Girardeau, MOThe helicopter was dispatched at night on an emerg med svc (EMS) flt fm a hospital at Cape Girardeau, MO. Purpose of theflt was to transport a patient fm a hospital at marion, IL, to Cape Girardeau. Wx at Cape Girardeau deteriorated after the acft departed.…Dec 22, 1988 · N119CG · DestroyedNTSB LAX89LA073Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Oakland, CAPilots intentional flight into known adverse weather condititions from which he inadvertently descended into the water at a high rate of speed. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing; lack of recent instrument flying…Dec 21, 1988 · N1072S · DestroyedNTSB MKC88FA070Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Springfield, MOWhile enroute to a vehicle accident the pilot encountered instrument flight conditions. As a result of flying into fog and turning on his night scanner light, the pilot experienced spatial disorientation and failed to maintain aircraft control. The pilot…Apr 1, 1988 · N119AE · Substantial damageNTSB SEA87MA034Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Pendleton, ORThe helicopter departed Pendleton on an emerg med svc/med-evac (EMS) flt to transport a patient to portland. After delivering the patient, the plt took off on the rtn flt with 2 med psnl aboard. Drg arrival at 1658 PST, he requested a special VFR (svfr)…Dec 4, 1986 · N7EC · DestroyedNTSB ATL87MA035Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Jamestown, TNThe helicopter was being used in an emerg med svc/med-evac (EMS) opn. At 0230, the plt obtained a partial wx briefing. He was advised of flt prctns for IFR wx thru-out the area with low ceilings, fog, precip & mtns obscd. The flt departed nashville at 0245 &…Dec 3, 1986 · N3898U · DestroyedNTSB FTW86LRA07Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Sabine Pass, TXAcft encountered deteriorating weather enroute from shore to an oil rig that was under tow in the gulf of Mexico. Upon encountering IMC conditions, the plt climbed to 600' AGL for better obstacle clearance and turned back toward the beach. During a subsequent…Jan 25, 1986 · N5748Y · No damageNTSB FTW85LA089Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Houma, LAThe plt departed into known bad wx with low ceilings and poor visibility. Very shortly after takeoff the plt elected to return to the arpt. During a descending right turn the plt broke out of IMC at a very low altitude. He pulledcollective but still landed…Dec 28, 1984 · N1075Y · Substantial damageNTSB FTW84LA118Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Venice, LAAbout 10 min after departing an offshore platform, the plt encountered an area of fog. He descended to aprx 200 ft, slowed to 40 KTS & started turning back. As he was turning, he was looking to the right to locate a petroleum production facility to use as a…Jan 24, 1984 · N5745M · Substantial damageNTSB FTW84LA116Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Vencie, LAAccording to the plt, he took off from a came site to pick up duck hunters at several locations. During the flt, he encountered fog & turned toward venice, LA to land. He then saw an oil field structure & some land & elected to make a precautionary landing.…Jan 13, 1984 · N5759M · Substantial damageNTSB FTW84LA081Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Ardmore, OKThe plt stated that before he took off from Oklahoma city, OK, he called the Oklahoma city fss & obtained a wx briefing. The briefing called for light rain showers, minimum ceiling of 1800 ft, visibility of 3 to 5 miles & no chance of fog, except in low lying…Dec 2, 1983 · N2005A · Substantial damageNTSB FTW82FA041Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell Helicopter 206L-1 · Houma, LAThe acft was enroute to the ship shoal area in the gulf of Mexico. Another plt who departed earlier advised the plt that he & another acft had turned around & was returning after encountering a low ceiling & reduced visibility. The surviving pax stated that…Jan 16, 1982 · N1081H · Destroyed