Bell 206 accident near Sayaxché, Gt, August 12, 2016
On August 12, 2016 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered TGCHB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sayaxché. 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2016 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sayaxché, Guatemala
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L3 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- TGCHB · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 12, 2016, about 1500 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Guatemalan-registered Bell 206-L3 helicopter, TG-CHB, crashed near Sayaxche, Guatemala. The pilot was seriously injured, one passenger received minor injuries, and two passengers were uninjured injured. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Guatemala. Further information may be obtained from: Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) Aeropuerto Internacional "La Aurora" Zona 13 Guatemala, C.A. 01013 Phone: + (502) 2321-5000 Email: accidentesdgacgua@gmail.com
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.