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 15, 2015	Dickinson, AL	N206CJ	Incident	substantial	The improper installation by company maintenance personnel of the securing hardware of a tail rotor driveshaft section, which resulted in that section… The improper installation by company maintenance personnel of the securing hardware of a tail rotor driveshaft section, which resulted in that section of tail rotor driveshaft disconnecting and a complete loss of tail rotor thrust.
Sep 24, 2015	Ozark, AL	N49660	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while hovering, which resulted in the helicopter's skid impacting terrain, subsequent abnormal … The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while hovering, which resulted in the helicopter's skid impacting terrain, subsequent abnormal airframe vibrations, and a hard landing during the subsequent hovering autorotation.
Sep 20, 2015	Thomaston, GA	N165BH	Incident	destroyed	The loss of tail rotor control due to a fractured pin in the tail rotor control system; the reason the pin fractured could not be determined as the fr… The loss of tail rotor control due to a fractured pin in the tail rotor control system; the reason the pin fractured could not be determined as the fractured pin was lost in shipping.
Aug 18, 2015	Cresco, IA	N5743W	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power due to the high-cycle fatigue failure of the third-stage turbine wheel.
Jun 02, 2015	Dewey, AZ	N73AW	Incident	substantial	A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 2 bearing, which resulted from a fractured separator.
May 29, 2015	Caledonia, MI	N206ED	Incident	substantial	A loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering at low altitude, resulting in a collision with trees.
May 20, 2015	Kearny, NJ	N210MH	Incident	substantial	The deliberate concealment and reuse of an unairworthy tail rotor driveshaft by unknown personnel, which resulted in an overstress separation at a bon… The deliberate concealment and reuse of an unairworthy tail rotor driveshaft by unknown personnel, which resulted in an overstress separation at a bonded flange adapter as a result of driveshaft imbalance.
May 07, 2015	Chesterfield, MO	N127AE	Incident	substantial	The collision of the helicopter's skid shoe with the runway centerline light during landing, which abruptly stopped the helicopter and resulted in dam… The collision of the helicopter's skid shoe with the runway centerline light during landing, which abruptly stopped the helicopter and resulted in damage to the fuselage.
Mar 24, 2015	Taylors Island, MD	N43CM	Incident	substantial	A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engi… A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight 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.
Mar 10, 2015	Palmer, AK	N86TA	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain control while hovering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with frozen lake ice. Contributing to the accide… The pilot's failure to maintain control while hovering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with frozen lake ice. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the helicopter from the left seat contrary to the rotorcraft flight manual, and the decision to continue the flight after the initial impact.
Feb 15, 2015	Wabo, Papua New Guinea, PP	P2-HFZ	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Feb 15, 2015	Sevierville, TN	N3176L	Incident	substantial	An uncontained engine failure, which resulted from insufficient lubrication of the No. 4 bearing due to carbon buildup on the filter screen of the bea… An uncontained engine failure, which resulted from insufficient lubrication of the No. 4 bearing due to carbon buildup on the filter screen of the bearing's oil supply nozzle.
Feb 12, 2015	Remote Location, SF	ZS-RMB	Incident	—	Investigation pending
Oct 25, 2014	West Palm Beach, FL	N418SV	Incident	substantial	A hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Oct 16, 2014	Prattville, AL	N59541	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Sep 25, 2014	Nashoba, OK	N152CA	Incident	substantial	The pilot's loss of directional control due a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Sep 12, 2014	Tombstone, AZ	N64AW	Incident	substantial	A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight due to loose “B” nut fittings and a bent tube as a result of maintenance personnel’s inadequate in… A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight due to loose “B” nut fittings and a bent tube as a result of maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the nuts during the most recent inspection.
Jul 30, 2014	Spring, TX	N866H	Incident	substantial	The pilot's distraction by a cell phone call, which led to his failure to perform an exterior check of the helicopter and resulted in a tie-down strap… The pilot's distraction by a cell phone call, which led to his failure to perform an exterior check of the helicopter and resulted in a tie-down strap remaining attached to the main rotor during the engine start.
Jul 26, 2014	Bennet, NE	N240SJ	Incident	substantial	A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident … A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to properly maintain the fuel storage tank.
Jul 19, 2014	Salinas, CA	N291SH	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to ensure adequate clearance from ground obstacles during takeoff which resulted in loss of aircraft control.
Feb 05, 2014	Bountiful, UT	N3211N	Incident	substantial	The pilots' inaccurate assessment of the snow depth on the landing zone, which resulted in a landing on snow deeper than that for which the helicopter… The pilots' inaccurate assessment of the snow depth on the landing zone, which resulted in a landing on snow deeper than that for which the helicopter was equipped and led to dynamic rollover.
Jan 02, 2014	Temple, TX	N400XL	Incident	substantial	The pilot's loss of control while landing on a mobile helipad.
Nov 02, 2013	Superior, MT	N888DR	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering during a long-line operation.
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.

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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