Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 — registry & accident history

Recent Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 accidents

1. N5017GApr 4, 2026No injuries

   The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the terrain while performing a lowaltitude circling takeoff maneuver, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

2. N138DDJan 18, 2026Serious
3. N2611Jul 23, 2025Fatal
4. N54AEOct 27, 2024No injuries

   An in-flight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.

5. N571CJDec 28, 2023No injuries

   The improper installation of the No. 8 bearing spanner nut, which resulted in the No. 8 bearing’s failure, and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

6. N2249ZNov 30, 2023Serious
7. N828WPJul 5, 2023Serious

   The pilot’s failure to see and avoid wires while conducting a low-level aerial application flight.

8. N242BHSep 10, 2022Minor

   The improper attachment of the tail rotor drive shaft to the air conditioner drive pulley without a drive ring, which resulted in the failure of the hardware, a loss of tail rotor drive, and the loss of control of the helicopter followed by a hard landing and rollover.

Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 aircraft

• N1171 ’79 •
• N123HP ’80 •
• N138DD ’79 •
• N206LW ’78 •
• N2072M ’82 •
• N20Z ’82 •
• N2611 ’80 •
• N303AE ’79 •
• N3176L ’83 •
• N32AE ’79 •
• N395AE •
• N39LR ’81 •