Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3

Aircraft Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada

Model: 206L-3

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter Textron Canada
Manufacturer Serial Number 1182156
Model 206L-3
Category Land
Aircraft Type Rotorcraft
Weight Class 2 (12,500 - 19,999 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Turbo-shaft
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 5 seats
Share your captured photos of the Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3, receive attribution and a link. Contact us.

Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

100%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


15 exact, 5 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
20
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


2 fatal accidents.

10.0% of recorded accidents were fatal.

163
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


3,253 (± 163)

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
22.2%
Exposure
12.8%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.

2009 – 2026 Total 20
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 20 observed): 2009 1, 2010 1, 2011 1, 2012 1, 2013 1, 2015 3, 2017 2, 2019 1, 2021 4, 2022 1, 2024 2, 2025 1, 2026 1. 2 4 6 8 0 1 '09 1 '10 1 '11 1 '12 1 '13 3 '15 2 '17 1 '19 4 '21 1 '22 2 '24 1 '25 3 '26
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

5 categories Total 20
Maneuvering 10
Takeoff 3
Enroute 3
Landing 2
Emergency descent 2
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 54
Personnel issues 28
Aircraft 13
Environmental issues 12
Organizational issues 1
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 20
None 13
Minor 3
Fatal 2
Serious 2

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (16)· 135 (9)· 137 (4)· NUSN (2)· 133 (1)· PUBU (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 20 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Logsden, OR N868H Substantial Minor Maneuvering unknown
Picayune, MS N17TL Substantial None Emergency descent unknown
Thorntown, IN N206WX Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Tracy, CA N17592 Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft
Franklin, PA N203PA Substantial None Enroute Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Covelo, CA N27TK Substantial None Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Tillamook, OR N6516K Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Berlin, IL N170AM Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Lucerne Valley, CA N6133C Substantial Minor Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Ashland, OR N8227J Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Union City, TN N275AE Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Ancho, NM N213TV Destroyed Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
Dickinson, AL N206CJ Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Kearny, NJ N210MH Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Chesterfield, MO N127AE Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Missoula, MT N868H Substantial Serious Maneuvering Personnel issues
Southern Timbalier 52CA N104LP Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues
Wingate, NC N216TV Substantial None Emergency descent Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Canal Point, FL N955GT Substantial Serious Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
White Plains, NY N22ZA Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Organizational issues
Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.