Bell 206L-3 accident near Amistad, New Mexico, September 7, 2013
On September 7, 2013 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N721LL, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Amistad, New Mexico. It was a public-use flight (state) under public-use (government) rules. 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to arrest the descent following an abrupt maneuver to avoid birds, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2013 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Amistad, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N721LL · no longer on the register · serial 51164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (state) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the helicopter was established in cruise flight on a west-southwest course at 300 feet above ground level before the accident. The pilot stated that about 25 minutes into the flight, he observed "multiple large black birds" in the helicopter's flightpath and initiated an "immediate hard turn to the right to avoid" them. He subsequently noted an increase in main rotor speed and adjusted accordingly. The pilot rolled out on a reciprocal heading, leveled the helicopter, and began to slow down. He noticed that the descent rate was not decreasing. The helicopter touched down "hard," seemed to bounce and came to rest about 100 yards from the initial touchdown point. The pilot reported no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,300 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 154 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 27, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,533 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 29, 2013; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: State Of Illinois
The flight
- Departed from: DHT Dalhart TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from DHT, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.