Bell 206 accident near Locust Grove, Georgia, February 21, 2004
On February 21, 2004 at about 6:12 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N35Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Locust Grove, Georgia (Mallard Landing airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter while lifting off a dolly to a hover. This resulted in the tail rotor blades and main rotor blades colliding with the ground and subsequent roll over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2004 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Locust Grove, Georgia · Mallard Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N35Q · registry record · serial 3073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed on a dolly at an angle. The pilot elected to reposition the helicopter so it would be straight on the dolly. The pilot increased collective pitch and the dolly started moving. The nose of the helicopter pitched up and to the left, and the tail rotor blades collided with the ground. The helicopter started turning to the left, and the pilot lowered the collective pitch. The main rotor blades collided with the ground and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the helicopter before the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,190 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,143 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,237 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 2003; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C250-L20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GA04 Locust Grove GA at 6:12 pm
- Destination: GA04
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from ATL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.