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
Jul 19, 2013	Tamaroa, IL	N23L	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during an agricultural application maneuver.
Jun 19, 2013	Lake City, AR	N467AE	Incident	substantial	A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any… A partial loss of engine power 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.
Jun 06, 2013	Abbeville, LA	N720RL	Incident	substantial	Failure of maintenance personnel to ensure adequate torque of a tailrotor drive shaft coupling bolt, which resulted in the partial disconnection of th… Failure of maintenance personnel to ensure adequate torque of a tailrotor drive shaft coupling bolt, which resulted in the partial disconnection of the drive shaft.
May 24, 2013	St Louis, MO	N297CA	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power due to the separation of compressor blades, which resulted from fatigue cracking.
May 10, 2013	Hartford, KY	N94PH	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to avoid a powerline that crossed a field that he was spraying. Contributing to the collision was the company’s failure to specifi… The pilot’s failure to avoid a powerline that crossed a field that he was spraying. Contributing to the collision was the company’s failure to specifically mention that flight hazards be identified during a pre-work conference.
May 10, 2013	Fort Worth, TX	N2036F	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
Apr 20, 2013	Wells, NV	N4237M	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Feb 11, 2013	Ponderosa, NM	N360AW	Incident	substantial	A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal a… A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Feb 10, 2013	Shandon, CA	N802KA	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Sep 19, 2012	Mammoth Lakes, CA	N222GR	Incident	destroyed	The pilot’s inability to maintain sufficient main rotor rpm while maneuvering in highdensity altitude conditions, which resulted in a precautionary … The pilot’s inability to maintain sufficient main rotor rpm while maneuvering in highdensity altitude conditions, which resulted in a precautionary landing and subsequent rollover.
Aug 18, 2012	San Juan, PR	N118EC	Incident	substantial	The crew’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to monitor the fuel state during flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to … The crew’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to monitor the fuel state during flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Jul 20, 2012	Circle, AK	N363AL	Incident	substantial	The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.
May 30, 2012	Burbank, WA	N106TV	Incident	substantial	The failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque an air tube fitting, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
May 25, 2012	Longboat Key, FL	N806LA	Incident	substantial	Unknown personnel's failure to comply with the engine manufacturer's engine fuel pump replacement guidance, which resulted in a total loss of engine p… Unknown personnel's failure to comply with the engine manufacturer's engine fuel pump replacement guidance, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to the engine fuel pump failure.
May 09, 2012	Flora, IN	N1069Z	Incident	substantial	The pilot allowed the helicopter to settle with power.
Apr 25, 2012	Arvin, CA	N969W	Incident	substantial	The pilot did not maintain clearance from power lines during low altitude maneuvering.
Mar 12, 2012	Southern Timbalier 52CA, USA	N104LP	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection when he did not remove a tie-down strap prior to takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Jan 22, 2012	Irving, TX	N555NB	Incident	substantial	A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.
Dec 01, 2011	Wingate, NC	N216TV	Incident	substantial	The certified flight instructor did not select an adequate landing site for the practice autorotation.
Sep 23, 2011	Seward, AK	N204PA	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during hover in deteriorating weather and flat light conditions, which resulted in… The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during hover in deteriorating weather and flat light conditions, which resulted in a tail rotor strike.
Sep 15, 2011	Spicewood, TX	N3181J	Incident	substantial	The pilot did not maintain adequate rotor rpm during a low-altitude maneuvering flight.
Aug 01, 2011	Relience, TN	N484AE	Incident	minor	Inadvertent contact with wires due to the lack of visual cues regarding their presence and the low angle of the sun, which was directly in the takeoff… Inadvertent contact with wires due to the lack of visual cues regarding their presence and the low angle of the sun, which was directly in the takeoff path.
Jul 23, 2011	Temple, OK	N118TV	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from static power lines.
Jun 21, 2011	Franklin, CA	N38EA	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the practice autorotation.
May 27, 2011	Glendale, AZ	N59383	Incident	substantial	The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during the autorotation.

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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