Research
The whole record, reshaped by a question.
Every count below is the Board's own coding across the cases in scope — findings, occurrences, phases, recommendations, the evidence held. Click any bar to make it the filter. No fleet-exposure data exists here, so these are cases, never rates.
AircraftAllBoeing / McDonnell DouglasAirbusEmbraerBombardier / De HavillandBellSikorskyRobinsonCessnaPiperBeechcraft
OccurrenceAllTurbulence encounterCollision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) Loss of control in flightGround collisionFire/smoke (non-impact)Cabin safety eventPowerplant sys/comp malf/failSys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)TailstrikeControlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)Air traffic eventRunway excursion
Showing 52 cases · Bell
52
cases in this slice
51
fatal accidents
138
lives lost
49
with a probable cause
25
with coded findings
17
safety recommendations
The record over time
cases per year by cohort, and the lives lost — click a year to focus on itCases per year
Major investigationPart 121 airlinePart 135 fatal
Fatalities per year
Fatalities
Why accidents happen
25 coded casesthe Board's findings taxonomy — causal findings in the probable cause, contributing factors beside them; occurrences and the phase of flight the defining event sat inPersonnel issues20 cases · 41 causal · 4 contributing
- Task performance — Use of equip/info, Planning/preparation12
- Action/decision — Info processing/decision, Action9
- Psychological — Perception/orientation/illusion, Attention/monitoring6
- Physical — Impairment/incapacitation4
- Experience/knowledge — Experience/qualifications, Knowledge2
Environmental issues16 cases · 23 causal · 5 contributing
- Conditions/weather/phenomena — Ceiling/visibility/precip, Light condition10
- Physical environment — Object/animal/substance, Terrain9
- Operating environment — Airport facilities/design2
- Task environment — Pressures/demands1
Aircraft12 cases · 14 causal · 2 contributing
- Aircraft oper/perf/capability — Performance/control parameters, (general)10
- Aircraft power plant — Engine (turbine/turboprop)2
- Aircraft systems — 1
- Aircraft propeller/rotor — Main rotor system1
- Aircraft structures — 1
Organizational issues3 cases · 9 causal · 1 contributing
- Support/oversight/monitoring — Safety programs, Oversight3
- Management — Culture, Policy/procedure2
Not determined1 cases · 1 causal · 0 contributing
- Not determined — (general)1
Solid = cited in the probable cause · outlined = contributing factor · hover a row for the most-cited specifics.
Occurrences coded
- Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) · 1 defining14
- Loss of control in flight · 6 defining11
- Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) · 6 defining6
- VFR encounter with IMC · 1 defining4
- Medical event · 3 defining3
- Unknown or undetermined · 2 defining3
- Birdstrike · 2 defining2
- Loss of engine power (total) · 1 defining2
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness · 1 defining2
- Dynamic rollover · 1 defining1
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail · 1 defining1
- Low altitude operation/event · 1 defining1
Phase of flight of the defining event
- Enroute16
- Approach6
- Maneuvering3
- Takeoff2
- InitialClimb1
- Unknown1
Aircraft and operators
by manufacturer family and operating rule — counts of cases, with no fleet-size denominator, so a busy family simply flies moreAircraft family
- Bell · 51 fatal52
Operators with the most cases
- Air Evac Ems · 7 lives3
- Rotorcraft Leasing Company · 11 lives3
- Air Methods · 10 lives2
- Panther Helicopters · 3 lives2
- Aar Airlift · 3 lives1
- Air Angels · 4 lives1
- Air Evac Lifeteam · 1 lives1
- Air Logistics · 1 lives1
- American Helicopters · 3 lives1
- Bristow Us · 2 lives1
- Carestar · 4 lives1
- Delta Bravo Sierra · 3 lives1
What changed because of them
17 recommendations · 9 opensafety recommendations issued from these cases, by the NTSB's status of the response- Closed · acceptable 7
- Closed · unacceptable 1
- Open · acceptable response 9
Issued per year
Recommendations
Reiterated most often
None reiterated.
Evidence held
what the corpus can show for this slice, year by year — a docket, decoded flight data, a transcript, photographs, controller audioWhat the record says for this slice
a pattern, not a findingthe causal findings the Board cited most often across the 25 coded cases here- Task performance › Use of equip/info · Personnel issues · 36%9 cases
- Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters · Aircraft · 36%9 cases
- Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip · Environmental issues · 24%6 cases
- Physical environment › Object/animal/substance · Environmental issues · 24%6 cases
- Action/decision › Info processing/decision · Personnel issues · 20%5 cases
- Action/decision › Action · Personnel issues · 20%5 cases
- Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion · Personnel issues · 16%4 cases
- Task performance › Planning/preparation · Personnel issues · 16%4 cases
- Physical environment › Terrain · Environmental issues · 12%3 cases
- Physical › Impairment/incapacitation · Personnel issues · 12%3 cases
- Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) · Aircraft · 8%2 cases
- Support/oversight/monitoring › Safety programs · Organizational issues · 8%2 cases
The cases
52 of 52newest first — open any case for its recorders, transcript, photographs and analyst| Date | Case | Aircraft | Operator | Where | Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-05 | GAA25WA156 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | Gangnani | Fatal · 6 | no docket · open | |
| 2025-04-10 | ERA25MA171 Major investigation | BELL 206L-4 | NY Helicopter | Jersey City, NJ | Fatal · 6 | 45 docs · recorder reports · open |
| 2024-10-07 | ERA25FA005 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206L-3 | Owenton, KY | Fatal · 3 | no docket · open | |
| 2024-09-07 | ANC24FA089 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206B | EGLI AIR HAUL INC | King Salmon, AK | Fatal · 1 | 7 docs |
| 2024-01-21 | CEN24FA094 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206 | AIR EVAC EMS INC | Hydro, OK | Fatal · 3 | 12 docs |
| 2023-07-20 | ANC23FA056 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206-L4 | MARITIME HELICOPTERS INC | Wainwright, AK | Fatal · 4 | 11 docs |
| 2022-12-29 | CEN23FA071 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC | Galliano, LA | Fatal · 4 | 31 docs |
| 2022-10-26 | CEN23FA019 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | Westwind Helicopters INC | Morgan City, LA | Fatal · 1 | 12 docs |
| 2022-01-14 | CEN22FA100 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC | Houma, LA | Fatal · 2 | 9 docs |
| 2019-12-25 | ERA20FA056 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | Survival Flight, LLC | Headland, AL | Fatal · 1 | 14 docs |
| 2019-12-07 | CEN20FA035 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | Panther Helicopters Inc | Gulf of Mexico, GM | Fatal · 2 | 10 docs |
| 2019-03-10 | CEN19FA095 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | BRISTOW US LLC | Galliano, LA | Fatal · 2 | 22 docs |
| 2019-01-29 | CEN19FA072 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | VIKING AVIATION INC | Zaleski, OH | Fatal · 3 | no docket |
| 2017-11-20 | CEN18FA033 Part 135 fatal | BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407 | AIR METHODS CORP | Stuttgart, AR | Fatal · 3 | 6 docs |
| 2017-02-07 | CEN17FA100 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206B | Republic Helicopters, Inc. | Galveston, TX | Fatal · 1 | 11 docs |
| 2015-12-11 | WPR16FA037 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | Rogers Helicopters | McFarland, CA | Fatal · 4 | 34 docs |
| 2014-10-04 | CEN15FA003 Part 135 fatal | BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206L 1 | AIR EVAC EMS INC | Wichita Falls, TX | Fatal · 3 | 18 docs |
| 2014-06-11 | CEN14FA286 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206 L4 | Westwind Helicopter LLC | South Timbalier Platform | Fatal · 2 | 8 docs |
| 2014-01-27 | CEN14FA122 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206L 3 | DELTA BRAVO SIERRA INC | Silt, CO | Fatal · 3 | 23 docs |
| 2013-10-09 | CEN14FA004 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206L 3 | PANTHER HELICOPTERS INC | Venice, LA | Fatal · 1 | 20 docs |
| 2012-05-28 | CEN12FA321 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206-L4 | GM | Fatal · 1 | 16 docs | |
| 2012-01-16 | DCA12FA024 Part 135 fatal | BELL 214 | AAR Airlift | Camp Bastion | Fatal · 3 | 25 docs · recorder reports |
| 2011-12-26 | ERA12MA122 Major investigation | BELL 206B | SK Logistics Inc | Green Cove Springs, FL | Fatal · 3 | 67 docs |
| 2011-10-04 | ERA12MA005 Major investigation | BELL 206B | DUDLEY PAUL P | New York, NY | Fatal · 2 | 29 docs |
| 2008-12-11 | CEN09FA086 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206L-4 | Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC | Sabine Pass, TX | Fatal · 5 | 18 docs |
| 2008-10-16 | CEN09MA019 Major investigation | BELL 222 | AIR ANGELS INC | Aurora, IL | Fatal · 4 | 19 docs |
| 2008-06-29 | DEN08MA116 Major investigation | BELL 407 | Air Methods Corp. | Flagstaff, AZ | Fatal · 7 | no docket |
| 2008-06-08 | DEN08FA101 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | Huntsville, TX | Fatal · 4 | 17 docs | |
| 2007-12-29 | DFW08FA053 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L1 | AIR LOGISTICS LLC | Venice, LA | Fatal · 1 | 17 docs |
| 2006-12-14 | NYC07FA048 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | HELOAIR INC | Dagsboro, DE | Fatal · 2 | 13 docs |
| 2006-03-14 | DFW06FA083 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-1 | Patterson, LA | Fatal · 2 | 17 docs | |
| 2005-10-06 | DFW06FAMS1 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206-L3 | Industrial Helicopters Inc. | Gulf of Mexico | Fatal · 3 | 2 docs |
| 2005-02-21 | DFW05FA073 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206-L1 | Air Evac Lifeteam | Gentry, AR | Fatal · 1 | 21 docs |
| 2004-12-17 | DFW05FA040 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | Ship Shoal 130E | Fatal · 1 | 3 docs | |
| 2004-08-22 | SEA04MA167 Major investigation | Bell 407 | Jeflyn Aviation, Inc | Battle Mountain, NV | Fatal · 5 | 32 docs |
| 2004-07-13 | CHI04MA182 Major investigation | Bell 407 | Med-Trans Corp. | Newberry, SC | Fatal · 4 | 56 docs |
| 2004-06-24 | FTW04FA168 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206-L1 | American Helicopters, Inc. | Vermillion Bay, LA | Fatal · 3 | 6 docs |
| 2004-05-11 | FTW04IA147 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-1 | SMI-28 | Fatal · 1 | no docket | |
| 2004-05-01 | ANC04FA049 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-3 | Deadhorse, AK | Fatal · 1 | no docket | |
| 2004-04-21 | CHI04FA107 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-1 | AIR EVAC EMS INC | Boonville, IN | Fatal · 1 | 44 docs |
| 2004-03-21 | FTW04FA097 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | CareStar | Pyote, TX | Fatal · 4 | 39 docs |
| 2003-12-01 | FTW04FA029 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | High Island 573 | Fatal · 1 | 8 docs | |
| 2003-10-10 | FTW04FA007 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-3 | W. Cameron 509 | Fatal · 3 | no docket | |
| 2003-08-13 | CHI03FA259 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-3 | Petrolium Helicopters Inc. | E.I. 276, LA | Fatal · 3 | no docket |
| 2003-07-23 | LAX03FA241 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206B | Waialeale,Kauai, HI | Fatal · 5 | no docket | |
| 2003-02-22 | FTW03LA101 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | High Island 443 | Fatal | no docket | |
| 2003-02-16 | FTW03FA097 Part 135 fatal | Bell 407 | MI 700 | Fatal · 2 | 69 docs | |
| 2003-01-16 | CHI03FA056 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-1 | B.S. 53, LA | Fatal · 1 | 16 docs | |
| 2002-09-10 | CHI02FA288 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-1 | Doland, SD | Fatal · 4 | 35 docs | |
| 2002-02-16 | ATL02FA048 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L-1 | New Smyrna Bch., FL | Fatal · 2 | 19 docs | |
| 2001-10-18 | SEA02FA008 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206L | Anchorage, AK | Fatal · 3 | no docket | |
| 2000-12-27 | FTW01FAMS1 Part 135 fatal | Bell 206B | TARLTON HELICOPTERS, INC. | HIGH ISLAND 116 | Fatal · 1 | 8 docs |