Bell 206B accident near Temple, Texas, January 2, 2014
On January 2, 2014 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1977 Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N400XL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Temple, Texas (Draughon-Miller Central Texas 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 loss of control while landing on a mobile helipad.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2014 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Temple, Texas · Draughon-Miller Central Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B, built 1977 · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N400XL · no longer on the register · serial 2115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 2, 2014, about 1700 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N400XL, experienced a roll over while repositioning from the ramp to a mobile helipad. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Engemann Aviation Services, LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which originated from Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport (KTPL) in Temple, Texas. The pilot reported he was relocating the helicopter from the parking ramp to a mobile helipad approximately 30 feet away. As the pilot lowered the helicopter onto the mobile helipad, the left rear skid slipped off the pad. The helicopter rolled over and impacted the ground on its right side. The rollover resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor head, including separation of the rotor blades, and separation of the tail boom.
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 control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,102 hours in all; 3,200 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 11,012 as pilot in command; 30 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 30, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,201 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C20 (turboshaft); 16,852 hours total
- Operator: Engemann Aviation Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TPL Temple TX at 11:00 pm
- Destination: TPL Temple TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from KTPL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 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 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1: N400XL Viewed from Tail Looking Forward Towards Nose | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2: N400XL Viewed from Nose Looking Aft Towards Tail | 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.