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
Jan 06, 2026	Queensland, OF	VH-LMW	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Nov 24, 2025	Uruyen, OF	YV3004	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 27, 2025	Archer City, TX	N565VA	Incident	destroyed	The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while herding livestock.
Jul 27, 2025	North Bend, NE	N432TV	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from wires while maneuvering at a low altitude, and the ground crew failure to inform the pilot that the sup… The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from wires while maneuvering at a low altitude, and the ground crew failure to inform the pilot that the support truck had been moved.
Jul 01, 2025	Edgerton, MO	N16726	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Apr 15, 2025	Amboy, WA	N16671	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Mar 18, 2025	Raul Soares, OF	PT-YEL	Incident	minor	Investigation pending
Jan 14, 2025	Lemoore, CA	N6255N	Incident	destroyed	The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Nov 21, 2024	Lakeland, FL	N422RH	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a tailwind approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, an uncommanded spin, and… The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during a tailwind approach, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, an uncommanded spin, and subsequent hard landing.
Sep 26, 2024	Fern Prairie, WA	N9984K	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 21, 2024	Arroyo Agua, DR	N206BH	Incident	destroyed	Investigation pending
Jul 21, 2024	Cornland, IL	N26UK	Incident	substantial	The pilot was unable to see a wire due to the setting sun and the helicopter subsequently struck the wire.
Jul 08, 2024	Thorntown, IN	N206WX	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to ensure that the load hose was disconnected from the helicopter before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control after liftof… The pilot’s failure to ensure that the load hose was disconnected from the helicopter before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control after liftoff and a hard landing.
May 03, 2024	Bages, OF	F-BXPF	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Apr 23, 2024	Tracy, CA	N17592	Incident	substantial	A loss of collective control authority due to fatigue failure of the collective servo cylinder extension arms from corrosion pitting.
Mar 26, 2024	Baton Rouge, LA	N67183	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff that resulted in a hard landing.
Feb 28, 2024	Narsaq, GL	OY-HIO	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 24, 2023	El Centro, CA	N111PM	Incident	substantial	An in-flight failure of the engine-to-transmission driveshaft due to a fatigue fracture of the forward-most flex plate in the forward KAflex coupling … An in-flight failure of the engine-to-transmission driveshaft due to a fatigue fracture of the forward-most flex plate in the forward KAflex coupling that resulted from a loose bolt attachment between the flex plate and the forward driveshaft coupling. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to identify the condition and remove the KAflex driveshaft for repair as specified by the manufacturer.
Aug 06, 2023	Carthage, IL	N288AE	Incident	substantial	A collision with a fence during landing due to the crew’s reduced distance estimation and depth perception while using night vision goggles. Contribut… A collision with a fence during landing due to the crew’s reduced distance estimation and depth perception while using night vision goggles. Contributing to the accident was the low moon angle, which made viewing the fence more challenging.
Jul 16, 2023	Tumbarumba, AS	VH-ZDI	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 05, 2023	Chapman, KS	N67FA	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power line during an agricultural application pass.
Jun 23, 2023	Thetford Mines, CA	N717LM	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jun 05, 2023	Orlando, FL	N27UK	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
Jan 22, 2023	Itacare, BR	PT-YDC	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 07, 2022	Ft Worth, TX	N2036F	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident, was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision… The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident, was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision.

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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