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
Sep 18, 2010 San Pedro Sula, HO HR-AVL Fatal (1) substantial Investigation pending
Aug 13, 2010 Rocky Mount, MO N54BE Incident substantial A dynamic rollover inadvertently induced by the pilot during landing.
Jul 28, 2010 St. Olaf, IA N275RA Minor substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during the agricultural flight.
Jul 26, 2010 Gulf of Mexico, LA N317RL Incident minor
The loss of main rotor rpm during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not…

The loss of main rotor rpm during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies.

Jul 24, 2010 Big Bear City, CA N788BD Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing approach.
Jul 23, 2010 New Hampton, IA N40TA Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.
Jul 19, 2010 Roseville, PA N302MG Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard.
Jul 19, 2010 Wells, NV N3185A Serious (1) substantial The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering after departure from mountainous terrain.
Jul 12, 2010 Gulf of Mexico, LA N523RL Incident minor
Improper reassembly of the collective flight controls by maintenance personnel. Contributing to the incident were inadequate postmaintenance examinati…

Improper reassembly of the collective flight controls by maintenance personnel. Contributing to the incident were inadequate postmaintenance examinations by maintenance personnel and inadequate preflight inspections by two pilots.

Jul 03, 2010 La Tuna, MX XC-BAM Minor substantial Investigation pending
Jun 23, 2010 Rickreall, OR N3194G Incident substantial A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to ensure that adequate fuel was aboard for the flight.
Jun 10, 2010 Gulf of Mexico, USA N108PH Minor minor
A suspected failure of the tail rotor for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the failure of the emergency floats to properly inflate due …

A suspected failure of the tail rotor for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the failure of the emergency floats to properly inflate due to improper installment and inspection by maintenance personnel.

May 30, 2010 Memphis, TN N6401X Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.
May 20, 2010 Traralgon, Australia, AS VH-OSU Fatal (1) destroyed Investigation pending
Mar 07, 2010 Guatemala City, GT TG-ELE Serious (5) destroyed Investigation pending
Feb 19, 2010 Carayaca, VE YV2191 Fatal (4) substantial Investigation pending
Jan 07, 2010 Kalispell, MT N127TP Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain lateral drift control during landing.
Jan 05, 2010 Auberry, CA N5016U Fatal (4) substantial The pilot's failure to see and avoid a wire while maneuvering during low-altitude operations.
Dec 09, 2009 Dorrigo, Australia, AS VH-MJO Fatal (1) substantial Investigation pending
Nov 18, 2009 Lyons, OR N16869 Incident substantial
The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition while he was descending, and his improper initial remedial …

The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition while he was descending, and his improper initial remedial action.

Nov 01, 2009 High Island A-442A, USA N272M Serious (1) substantial
A total loss of engine power due to maintenance personnel's failure to correctly torque the Pc line following removal and reinstallation of the turbin…

A total loss of engine power due to maintenance personnel's failure to correctly torque the Pc line following removal and reinstallation of the turbine module.

Oct 25, 2009 Eupora, MS N57PH Serious (1) destroyed A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination of the helicopter’s fuel supply.
Aug 26, 2009 White Plains, NY N22ZA Incident substantial The pilot's failure to disconnect the ground power unit prior to takeoff.
Aug 24, 2009 Gumboro Township, DE N98KR Incident substantial
The pilot’s failure to secure the flight controls before exiting the running helicopter. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s practice of e…

The pilot’s failure to secure the flight controls before exiting the running helicopter. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s practice of exiting the helicopter while it was still running.

Jul 11, 2009 Burlington, WA N302PD Incident substantial
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to lift off from a trailer. The helicopter subsequently impacted the groun…

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to lift off from a trailer. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and rolled over.

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