NTSB investigations: Bell 206L-3

7 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Bell 206L-3, 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.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19832026

NTSB investigations: Bell 206L-3 per year, 1983–2026: 7 cases
1983	1
1988	1
1992	1
1995	1
1997	1
1998	1
2003	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with SQL

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 ('1182108') 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

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 ('1182108')
      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.

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 ('1182108')
    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

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB FTW04FA007Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · W. Cameron 509The pilot's loss of control following an inadvertent encounter with adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors were the prevailing thunderstorms, the low ceilings, and the miscommunication between the pilot and the company's communication center in…Oct 10, 2003 · N81671 · Destroyed NTSB ATL98FA080Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Indian Trail, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude while operating in adverse weather. A contributing factor was the incoming fog and high tension static wire.May 25, 1998 · N96CW · Destroyed NTSB FTW97LA217Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Weston, COthe pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and failure to maintain adequate altitude and/or clearance from rising mountainous/hilly terrain. The unfavorable wind condition and low airspeed were related factors.Jun 12, 1997 · N207DS · Substantial damage NTSB FTW95FA308Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206-L3 · Borger, TXThe pilot's loss of control due to an encounter with a dust devil/whirlwind and the turbulence and high wind associated with thunderstorm outflow.Jul 22, 1995 · N111JA · Destroyed NTSB FTW92LA070Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · South Pelto #1The pilot's inability to control the helicopter due to spatial disorientation. Factors were the fog and the pilot's failure to receive a weather briefing prior to the flight.Feb 15, 1992 · N3120X · Destroyed NTSB DEN89FA019Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Deckers, COWhile on a corporate flt thru a canyon in marginal wx conds, the helicopter collided with the static portion of a power transmission line & crashed. The acdnt occurred where a 2,554 ft span of the power line crossed the south platte river. The power line…Oct 19, 1988 · N99TV · Destroyed NTSB FTW83FA097Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Goliad, TXThe helicopter collided with trees and the ground in an attempt to reverse directions at low alt & at night after encountering weather. The plt had received a weather briefing and knew the weather was bad with low ceilings and fog. Heradioed he could make it…Jan 21, 1983 · N3899U · Destroyed