Bell 206 - L4 accident near Lake City, Arkansas, June 19, 2013
On June 19, 2013 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Bell 206 - L4 (helicopter), registered N467AE, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Lake City, Arkansas (Air Evac Helipad airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2013 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lake City, Arkansas · Air Evac Helipad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 - L4 L4 · all 206 - L4s on the register
- Registration
- N467AE · registry record · serial 52438
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was on final approach to a private helipad about 80 to 100 feet above the ground at an airspeed of 40 knots when the engine lost partial power. He lowered the collective and touched down short of the helipad on the edge of tall grass and dirt, and the helicopter subsequently bounced. A postaccident examination of the airframe and a test run of the engine in a test cell and on the airframe identified no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The cause of the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,380 hours in all; 2,007 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 5,270 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 4, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 154 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 19, 2013; 154 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce CAE-896154 (turboshaft); 154 hours total
- Operator: Air Evac Ems INC
The flight
- Departed from: AE03 Sikeston MO at 8:34 pm
- Destination: AE02 Lake City AR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from JBR, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on June 3, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1A | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Written Statement - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email from FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Engine Examination Report | PDF, 18 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Results-operational Acceptance Flight Checklist Bh 206L | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | NTSB Party Form - Air Evac Lifeteam | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | NTSB Party Form - Rolls Royce | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | NTSB Wreckage Retention - Release Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.