Bell 206 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1329 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

1329

All Events

546

Incidents

242

Minor

192

Serious

317

Fatal (670 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Oct 09, 2013 Venice, LA, USA N54LP Fatal (1) substantial
A total loss of engine power due to the liberation of a second stage turbine blade near the blade root due to a high-cycle fatigue crack and subsequen…

A total loss of engine power due to the liberation of a second stage turbine blade near the blade root due to a high-cycle fatigue crack and subsequent overload. Although extensive testing and materials analysis was performed, the reason for crack initiation could not be determined.

Oct 04, 2013 Upper Edgebold, UK G-BPWI Minor substantial Investigation pending
Sep 07, 2013 Amistad, NM N721LL Minor substantial The pilot's failure to arrest the descent following an abrupt maneuver to avoid birds, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Aug 30, 2013 Matoes do Norte, BR PT-HUE Incident substantial <br /><br />
Aug 10, 2013 Albers, IL N804LA Incident substantial Fuel contamination, which resulted in the loss of engine power.
Aug 04, 2013 Chualar, CA N90146 Minor substantial
Maintenance personnel's failure to properly tighten the bolts securing the main driveshaft to the transmission, which resulted in fatigue failure of t…

Maintenance 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.

Jul 19, 2013 Tamaroa, IL N23L Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during an agricultural application maneuver.
Jun 28, 2013 Missoula, MT N868H Serious (1) substantial
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…

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.

Jun 24, 2013 Royal City, WA N407FK Serious (1) substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from netting material during a low pass over trees, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
Jun 19, 2013 Lake City, AR N467AE Incident substantial
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any…

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Jun 07, 2013 San Luis Potosí, MX N207JA Fatal (4) substantial Investigation pending
Jun 06, 2013 Abbeville, LA N720RL Incident substantial
Failure of maintenance personnel to ensure adequate torque of a tailrotor drive shaft coupling bolt, which resulted in the partial disconnection of th…

Failure of maintenance personnel to ensure adequate torque of a tailrotor drive shaft coupling bolt, which resulted in the partial disconnection of the drive shaft.

May 29, 2013 Fort McMurray, CA C-FZWB Fatal (2) substantial Investigation pending
May 24, 2013 St Louis, MO N297CA Incident substantial The loss of engine power due to the separation of compressor blades, which resulted from fatigue cracking.
May 10, 2013 Fort Worth, TX N2036F Incident substantial The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
May 10, 2013 Hartford, KY N94PH Incident substantial
The pilot’s failure to avoid a powerline that crossed a field that he was spraying. Contributing to the collision was the company’s failure to specifi…

The pilot’s failure to avoid a powerline that crossed a field that he was spraying. Contributing to the collision was the company’s failure to specifically mention that flight hazards be identified during a pre-work conference.

Apr 27, 2013 Shepherd, MT N150SP Fatal (1) substantial
The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering during low-altitude operations due to sudden neurological impairment or incapacitation and the helicopte…

The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering during low-altitude operations due to sudden neurological impairment or incapacitation and the helicopter’s subsequent collision with power lines.

Apr 20, 2013 Wells, NV N4237M Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Feb 18, 2013 Eureka, NV N20620 Fatal (1) substantial
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire while maneuvering during low-altitude operations. Contributing to the accident was task- and/or …

The 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 11, 2013 Ponderosa, NM N360AW Incident substantial
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal a…

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Feb 10, 2013 Acton, CA N59518 Fatal (3) substantial
The pilot's decision to conduct a flight in dark night conditions with an illuminated cockpit light that degraded his visibility and his ability to id…

The pilot's decision to conduct a flight in dark night conditions with an illuminated cockpit light that degraded his visibility and his ability to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent while maneuvering, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

Feb 10, 2013 Shandon, CA N802KA Incident substantial The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Jan 21, 2013 Sao Paulo, BR PR-JBN Fatal (2) substantial Investigation pending
Jan 02, 2013 Delano, CA N828AC Fatal (1) destroyed The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in low visibility, dark night conditions.
Oct 27, 2012 Nueva Concepción, GT TG-PMR Fatal (1) substantial Investigation pending
Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.
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Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data