Bell 206 accident near Todd Mission, Texas, July 20, 2018
On July 20, 2018 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1969 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N352CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Todd Mission, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s inadvertent interference with the tail rotor pedals, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and the subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2018 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Todd Mission, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B, built 1969 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N352CT · no longer on the register · serial 340
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed the helicopter on a grass field so that the three passengers could switch seat positions during the local personal flight. As the helicopter took off from the field, it began to rotate to the right. Once airborne, the helicopter spun several revolutions to the right. The pilot reported that she applied full left pedal with no response from the helicopter. The left skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled to the left and came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, the tailboom, and the tail rotor system. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The cyclic, collective, and the two tail rotor pedals were installed on the left side of the helicopter. The passenger in the front left seat was asked if he had his feet on top of the tail rotor pedals; he reported "that or on the floor" and then stated that he was not sure. Postaccident passenger interference testing in a flight training device revealed performance similar to the helicopter's accident sequence. Although the pilot had briefed the passengers about not touching any of the flight controls, it is likely that, during the takeoff, the passenger had his feet either on or up against the tail rotor pedals, which resulted in the helicopter's rotation to the right and the subsequent loss of control.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Flight control sys malf/fail during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Rotorcraft flight control › Tail rotor control system › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Passenger
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,780 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 10, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,102.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 (turboshaft); 5,358 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Houston TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Pinehurst TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KDWH, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2020. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Video Footage (Courtesy of A Witness Provided to the FAA) | video | View Download |
| 4 | Records of Conversations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot and Passenger Heights and Weights Email | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | NTSB Reports | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Most Recent Helicopter Log Entries | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Helicopter Accessory Service Reports | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Party Member 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.