Bell 206B accident near Justin, Texas, June 12, 2009
On June 12, 2009 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N43791, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Justin, Texas (Bell Training Facility Helipor airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The instructor pilot's failure to add sufficient power early enough to compensate for the strong gusting headwinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2009 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Justin, Texas · Bell Training Facility Helipor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N43791 · no longer on the register · serial 4481
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter instructor pilot was demonstrating an “extended glide” autorotation to a paved landing “lane” when the accident occurred. The autorotation was initiated at an altitude of approximately 740 feet above ground level (agl). Upon reaching an altitude of 75 feet agl, the pilot determined that he was going to land short of the paved surface so he applied power; however, lift was suddenly lost. He then noticed a raised concrete lip between the grass and the landing lane so he applied aft cyclic hoping the front of the skids would not catch on the raised pavement. The helicopter touched down in the soft terrain, slid over the rise in the pavement, and became airborne. The helicopter then touched down on the pavement, at which time the tail boom was severed. The helicopter slid about 75 feet and turned to the right about 40 degrees prior to coming to rest. Winds at the time of the accident were from 180 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The autorotation was being performed to the south.
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
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during maneuvering
- Autorotation Landing area undershoot defining event
- Autorotation Attempted remediation/recovery
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Decision related to condition
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,249 hours in all; 1,389 in this make and model; 141 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 18, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,978 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 3,009 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,830 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 1, 2009; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Textron Financial CORP
The flight
- Departed from: 3XS7 Justin TX at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 3XS7 Justin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from AFW, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N43791 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.