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 09, 2019 WALKERTON, IN N19TV Incident substantial The partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Aug 27, 2019 San Diego, CA N218GH Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain yaw and pitch control while repositioning the helicopter, which resulted in dynamic rollover.
Aug 25, 2019 Inca, Mallorca, SP D-HOTT Fatal (7) destroyed Investigation pending
Aug 16, 2019 Blair, NE N106PD Minor substantial The loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aug 10, 2019 Vuoggatjålme, SW SE-JOA Incident substantial Investigation pending
Jul 27, 2019 Dukedom, TN N454MS Minor substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.
May 23, 2019 Pittsfield, IL N158H Minor substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain during agricultural application operations.
May 21, 2019 La Vega, DR N9956K Fatal (2) substantial Investigation pending
May 15, 2019 New York, NY N26BB Incident substantial The pilot's failure to compensate for adverse wind on final approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and aircraft control.
May 04, 2019 Oxnard, CA N49643 Serious (1) substantial
The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering at a low altitude due to reasons that could not be determined based on a…

The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering at a low altitude due to reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

Apr 30, 2019 Sabanalarga, CO HK3321 Incident substantial Investigation pending
Apr 26, 2019 Oakridge, OR N206JH Incident substantial A total loss of engine power following the failure of a 3rd stage turbine blade due to low- and high-cycle fatigue.
Apr 16, 2019 Fort McDowell, AZ N61PH Fatal (2) destroyed
The separation of the main rotor head from the mast as a result of a sudden displacement of the cyclic stick during a low-G maneuver, leading to mast …

The separation of the main rotor head from the mast as a result of a sudden displacement of the cyclic stick during a low-G maneuver, leading to mast bumping. Contributing to the accident were the unsecure positioning of the flight test engineer’s laptop computer and the deviation from standard operating procedures to leave the left seat cyclic control installed during the test flight.

Apr 15, 2019 Dublin, GA N395AE Incident substantial
A partial loss of engine power on takeoff due to separation of the diffuser assembly as a result of incomplete braze joint surfaces on the vane airfoi…

A partial loss of engine power on takeoff due to separation of the diffuser assembly as a result of incomplete braze joint surfaces on the vane airfoils.

Apr 12, 2019 Big Pine, FL N173MS Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while it was being reloaded with the rotors turning in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a…

The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while it was being reloaded with the rotors turning in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a rotor strike with ground equipment.

Mar 29, 2019 Valley Center, CA N83181 Serious substantial
The ground crew’s attachment of the load fill hose to the helicopter without telling the pilot, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during …

The ground crew’s attachment of the load fill hose to the helicopter without telling the pilot, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff.

Feb 11, 2019 Barueri County, BR PT-HPG Fatal (3) destroyed Investigation pending
Jan 23, 2019 Ashland, OR N8227J Fatal (1) substantial
The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions an…

The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and spatial disorientation leading to a loss of control.

Jan 12, 2019 Yuma, AZ N88HC Serious (1) substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission wires while flying at low altitude in nighttime conditions.
Nov 04, 2018 Uvalde, TX N417WT Fatal (3) destroyed
The pilot's controlled flight into terrain during night visual meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot improper decision…

The pilot's controlled flight into terrain during night visual meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot improper decision to inhibit the helicopter's terrain warning systems and flight at low altitude.

Sep 22, 2018 Yarraden, AS VH-HZO Minor substantial Investigation pending
Sep 10, 2018 Bartica, GY 8R-GTR Incident substantial Investigation pending
Aug 18, 2018 Battle Mountain, NV N8052G Incident destroyed The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude and airspeed while flying in a canyon in gusting wind conditions.
Aug 07, 2018 Basin City, WA N607RA Minor destroyed The pilot's improper execution of a slowing and turning maneuver, which resulted in a loss of control at an altitude that was too low for recovery.
Jul 20, 2018 Todd Mission, TX N352CT Minor substantial
The passenger’s inadvertent interference with the tail rotor pedals, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and the subsequent …

The passenger’s inadvertent interference with the tail rotor pedals, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and the subsequent impact with terrain.

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