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 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.
May 28, 1991 BREWSTER, WA N90307 Incident substantial THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY SIMULATION.
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.
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 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.
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.
Aug 04, 1990 FITCHBURG, MA N750LT Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS ON BOARD FOR THE FLIGHT.
Jul 25, 1990 QUINCY, CA N2292W Incident substantial AN UNIDENTIFIED CONTAMINATE LODGED IN THE FUEL GOVERNOR.
Jul 19, 1990 LAKE OZARK, MO N206AT Incident minor COMPRESSION ASSEMBLY BLADE AND EMERGENCY FLOATATION GEAR FAILURE.
Jul 18, 1990 GOODNEWS BAY, AK N4796B Incident substantial THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE WET & SOFT TUNDRA WAS A FACTOR.
Jul 10, 1990 SAN CARLOS, AZ N5006Y Incident substantial Investigation pending
Jul 10, 1990 TETERBORO, NJ N73LM Incident substantial FAILED POWER TURBINE SHAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE CORROSION ON THE POWER TURBINE SHAFT AND INADEQUATE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETINS.
Jun 21, 1990 MAC DOEL, CA N10UB Incident substantial Investigation pending
May 23, 1990 MIAMI, FL N303MP Incident substantial Investigation pending
May 08, 1990 KAPLAN, LA N2187P Incident substantial RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE RIGHT SKID ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE LATERAL CENTER OF GRAVITY TO BE EXCEEDED DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKE OFF.
Apr 21, 1990 WILLIAMSPORT, AK N1075G Incident substantial THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE PART DESIGN AND THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES BY THE OPERATOR.
Apr 14, 1990 DRIFT RIVER, AK N1086Z Incident substantial THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DURING LIFT-OFF.
Mar 12, 1990 COUGAR, WA N678KG Incident substantial Investigation pending
Feb 04, 1990 WINTHROP, WA N49573 Incident substantial
WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. DARKNESS AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WER…

WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. DARKNESS AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Nov 02, 1989 SAINT PAUL, MN N3174S Incident substantial IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Sep 27, 1989 GRAND PRAIRIE, TX N995KP Incident substantial THE PILOT'S DECISION TO EXECUTE AN ABRUPT MANEUVER WHILE HOVERING DOWNWIND, WHICH LED TO A REDUCTION IN ROTOR RPM AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.
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