How many accidents has the Bell 206 had?

The NTSB has recorded 1329 events involving the Bell 206: 317 fatal, 192 serious, 242 minor injuries, and 546 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Bell 206 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Bell 206 has 1329 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

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 17, 2002	Edinburg, TX	N303CH	Serious (1)	substantial	The loss of tailrotor effectiveness due to the right quartering tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing. Factors were the lack of suitable surroun… The loss of tailrotor effectiveness due to the right quartering tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing. Factors were the lack of suitable surrounding terrain for landing, which included numerous surrounding obstacles, and the tailwind.
Sep 25, 2002	North Las Vegas, NV	N601GM	Incident	substantial	the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power due to an inadequate fuel supply.
Sep 10, 2002	Doland, SD	N400SL	Fatal (4)	destroyed	Pilot spatial disorientation while flying in dark night conditions, resulting in a loss of aircraft control; and the company's inadequate remedial act… Pilot spatial disorientation while flying in dark night conditions, resulting in a loss of aircraft control; and the company's inadequate remedial actions after identifying the pilot's night flying deficiency over areas without lighted references. A factor to the accident was the dark night conditions.
Aug 30, 2002	Canon City, CO	N43GA	Serious (1)	destroyed	the pilot's failure to maintain clearance of a static wire, and the subsequent loss of aircraft control due to the main rotor pitch change tubes being… the pilot's failure to maintain clearance of a static wire, and the subsequent loss of aircraft control due to the main rotor pitch change tubes being severed.
Aug 26, 2002	Saguache, CO	N801HM	Serious (1)	substantial	the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making, and the loss of tail rotor effectiveness. A contributing factor was the right quarterin… the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making, and the loss of tail rotor effectiveness. A contributing factor was the right quartering tailwind.
Aug 24, 2002	Wisdom, MT	N832AH	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an object while maneuvering. A tree(s) was a factor.
Aug 01, 2002	E Cameron 190, USA	N25GH	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Jul 25, 2002	Eugene Is 192, USA	N3174Y	Minor	substantial	The loss of tail rotor control due to an in-flight collision with an object.
Jul 25, 2002	Newfield, NY	C-GMLS	Minor	substantial	The pilot's failure to verify the amount of fuel onboard prior to departure, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel exhaustion, and subsequent har… The pilot's failure to verify the amount of fuel onboard prior to departure, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel exhaustion, and subsequent hard landing. A factor was the lack of a suitable landing area under the helicopter when the power loss occurred.
Jul 25, 2002	Prince George, CA	N59584	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 24, 2002	Elsie, OR	N60PH	Incident	substantial	The shattering and separation of the forward right (pilot's) windscreen for undetermined reason(s).
Jul 06, 2002	Three Rivers, MI	N60EA	Incident	substantial	A loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Jun 29, 2002	Gulf of Mexico, USA	N255EV	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain proper rotor RPM during engine shutdown due to high wind conditions, which resulted in the main rotor blades contactin… The pilot's failure to maintain proper rotor RPM during engine shutdown due to high wind conditions, which resulted in the main rotor blades contacting the tailboom. A contributing factor was the gusty wind conditions.
Jun 27, 2002	Raton, NM	N2779B	Fatal (2)	destroyed	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of the static wire. Factors were the static wire, and the glaring sunlight condition.
Jun 25, 2002	Rainier, WA	N1087L	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while trying to land. Rough/uneven terrain, inaccurate performance data calculations, inadequate in-… The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while trying to land. Rough/uneven terrain, inaccurate performance data calculations, inadequate in-flight planning and lack of familiarity with the geographic area were factors.
Jun 09, 2002	Dover, AR	N103AE	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with trees during the approach. A contributing factor was dark night light conditions.
Jun 05, 2002	Dhoyntji, AS	VH-PHQ	Fatal (4)	destroyed	Investigation pending
May 30, 2002	Columbus, OH	N820H	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor's delay in applying remedial action. A factor in the accident was the pilot allowing the rotor rpm to become too low during the… The flight instructor's delay in applying remedial action. A factor in the accident was the pilot allowing the rotor rpm to become too low during the deceleration and touchdown phase of the autorotation.
May 28, 2002	Meadview, AZ	N1075S	Minor	destroyed	the pilot's failure to maintain distance and altitude during landing approach, resulting in the helicopter striking the ground during approach.
May 24, 2002	Moab, UT	N191RH	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during a forced landing. A contributing factor was fuel starvation.
May 24, 2002	Fort Lauderdale, FL	N80PH	Incident	substantial	The excessive rate of descent by the pilot-in-command during the autorotative landing resulting in a hard landing, following a total loss of engine po… The excessive rate of descent by the pilot-in-command during the autorotative landing resulting in a hard landing, following a total loss of engine power caused by failure of the No. 4 bearing.
May 18, 2002	Salem, UT	N3894Q	Serious (1)	substantial	a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during takeoff. A contributing factor was the wind gusts.
May 12, 2002	Rosenberg, TX	N717NH	Serious (4)	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.
May 02, 2002	COCA, EC	HC-BXA	Minor	substantial	Investigation pending
Apr 13, 2002	New York, NY	N19TD	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare while landing, which resulted in a collision with a concrete curb.

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

Bell 206 Safety Record

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