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
Jul 22, 1991 TOUTLE, WA N276KA Fatal (1) substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND CORRECT FOR THE RIGHT YAWING CONDITION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND C…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND CORRECT FOR THE RIGHT YAWING CONDITION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, DIVERTED ATTENTION, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.

Jul 14, 1991 FREEPORT, TX N16962 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ROTOR RPM DURING THE AUTOROTATION. FACTORS WERE THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S I…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ROTOR RPM DURING THE AUTOROTATION. FACTORS WERE THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION.

Jul 09, 1991 VERO BEACH, FL N333FC Incident substantial THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Jul 01, 1991 SHEEP MOUNTAIN, AK N302MH Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S LACK OF COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE WIND IN THE 'CRITICAL WIND AZIMUTH' AREA WHICH LED TO LIMITED TA…

THE PILOT'S LACK OF COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND CONTINUED OPERATION WITH THE WIND IN THE 'CRITICAL WIND AZIMUTH' AREA WHICH LED TO LIMITED TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VARIABLE AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.

Jun 30, 1991 S. TIM 171D, N2772A Incident substantial THE HIGH RATE OF DESCENT AND DELAYED FLARE.
Jun 17, 1991 OPA-LOCKA, FL N306MP Incident substantial Investigation pending
Jun 07, 1991 LIHUE, HI N212OX Serious (3) destroyed FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT FUEL WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE FLIGHT.
May 28, 1991 BREWSTER, WA N90307 Incident substantial THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY SIMULATION.
May 07, 1991 HOUSTON, TX N717NH Serious (2) destroyed ENGINE MOUNT DELAMINATION AND LACK LUBRICATION, CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FAIL. POOR SERVICING OF THE HELICOPTER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
May 06, 1991 SEARCHLIGHT, NV N49720 Minor destroyed
CANNOT BE DETERMINED IN THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS STOLEN AND THE CERTAINTY OF THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL OR ACCIDE…

CANNOT BE DETERMINED IN THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS STOLEN AND THE CERTAINTY OF THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL OR ACCIDENTAL.

Apr 23, 1991 SO. MARSH 275, N213AL Fatal (2) destroyed
THE INFLIGHT STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND SEPARATION OF THE VERTICAL FIN WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AND MAST BUMPING. THE FAILURE OF THE FIN WAS DUE TO …

THE INFLIGHT STRUCTURAL FAILURE AND SEPARATION OF THE VERTICAL FIN WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AND MAST BUMPING. THE FAILURE OF THE FIN WAS DUE TO INADEQUATE CORROSION CONTROL EFFORTS BY THE OPERATOR.

Apr 03, 1991 UMNAC ISLAND, AK N16964 Incident substantial Investigation pending
Mar 09, 1991 HONOLULU, HI N2072C Incident destroyed INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS THE PARTIAL DEFLATION OF THE EMERGENCY FLOTATION EQUIPMENT.
Mar 08, 1991 HIGH ISLAND, TX N59491 Fatal (1) substantial
FOR OCCURRENCE #1 - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE OPERATOR IN LAUNCHING A HAZARDOUS MISSION WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE SLING/HARNESS, THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEM…

FOR OCCURRENCE #1 - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE OPERATOR IN LAUNCHING A HAZARDOUS MISSION WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE SLING/HARNESS, THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ACCEPTING AND CONTINUING THE MISSION INTO LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE CREWMEMBER'S INADVERTENT RELEASE OF HIS HOLD OF THE NYLON STRAP. FOR OCCURRENCES #2-4 - FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT AS A RESULT OF ENTANGLEMENT OF AN UNSECURED NYLON STRAP.

Feb 16, 1991 KODIAK, AK N59568 Minor substantial A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN AFTER THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A WHITEOUT CONDITION.
Jan 27, 1991 S TIM BLK 198, N39HC Fatal (2) destroyed FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), THE HELICOPER CRASHED AT SEA (GULF OF MEXICO) IN AN AREA WITH A LOW CEILING, RAIN, AND THUNDERSTORMS.
Dec 21, 1990 ST. MARKS, FL N37AN Minor destroyed
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SAFE ALTITUDE WHILE DESCENDING OVER A COASTLINE, AT NIGHT, IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTIN…

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SAFE ALTITUDE WHILE DESCENDING OVER A COASTLINE, AT NIGHT, IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE RESULTING IN HIS ENCOUNTER WITH INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT HIS DESTINATION.

Dec 09, 1990 W.CAMERON 266, N5753B Incident destroyed FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER'S AFT LANDING GEAR CROSSTUBE ASSEMBLY DUE TO FATIGUE.
Dec 09, 1990 COEUR D'ALENE, ID N53MA Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, AND A DELAY BY THE FAA INSPECTOR (FLIGHT EXAMINER) IN TAKING REMEDICAL ACTION.
Dec 07, 1990 BOCA GRANDE, FL N905CA Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
Dec 06, 1990 FORT PIERCE, FL N2756P Incident substantial
THE INCORRECT CYCLIC CONTROL INPUT BY THE STUDENT DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION LANDING AND FAILURE OF THE CFI TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE THE HELICOPT…

THE INCORRECT CYCLIC CONTROL INPUT BY THE STUDENT DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION LANDING AND FAILURE OF THE CFI TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN.

Sep 10, 1990 OAHU, HI N3200N Serious (1) THE PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW BOARDING INSTRUCTIONS.
Sep 09, 1990 KOKHANOK, AK N385EH Serious (1) substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE COMPRESSOR END OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR SCROLL TO TEE TUBE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPOOL DOWN. THE FORCED LANDING IN ENEVEN, UN…

THE FAILURE OF THE COMPRESSOR END OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR SCROLL TO TEE TUBE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPOOL DOWN. THE FORCED LANDING IN ENEVEN, UNPREPARED, AND LIGHTLY FORESTED TERRAIN WERE FACTORS.

Aug 27, 1990 ELKHORN, WI N16933 Fatal (5) destroyed
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE BEFORE FLYING OVER RISING TERRAIN AT NIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO T…

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE BEFORE FLYING OVER RISING TERRAIN AT NIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, FOG, HAZE, RISING TERRAIN, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT.

Aug 22, 1990 CALIFORNIA CITY, CA N250CA Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE JUMP AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INABILITY OF THE JUMP AIRC…

THE FAILURE OF THE HELICOPTER PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE JUMP AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INABILITY OF THE JUMP AIRCRAFT PILOT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE HELICOPTER.

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