Bell 206B accident near Cameron, Texas, May 31, 2022
On May 31, 2022 at about 9:16 pm local time, a 1979 Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N27574, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Cameron, Texas (Cameron Muni Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew not maintaining lateral control of the helicopter during hovering operation which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2022 · about 9:16 pm local time
- Place
- Cameron, Texas · Cameron Muni Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B, built 1979 · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N27574 · registry record · serial 2562
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the flight instructor was working with a student on hovering the helicopter. The operator reported that the instructor used a method which transferred one control at a time to the student to familiarize the student with the use of that control and to not overwhelm the student by transferring all controls at once. The instructor first transferred pedal control, while maintaining cyclic and collective controls, with good success. He then did the same with the student commanding collective only, and then with cyclic only, while the instructor retained control of the other two controls. Ultimately the student was given control of cyclic and collective, and shortly thereafter the helicopter began to drift to the left. The instructor attempted to make a control input to correct the drift, but the helicopter rolled to the left and the rotor system of the helicopter impacted the ground, followed by the helicopter fuselage coming to rest on is left side. The helicopter received substantial damage to its fuselage and rotor system. The operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Flight crew
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,103 hours in all; 1,974 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 4 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,128 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 19, 2022
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 12,592 hours total
- Operator: Utility Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: GTU Georgetown TX
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KLHB, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLHB 311955Z AUTO 16011G17KT 10SM SCT055 SCT075 35/22 A2987 RMK AO2 T03450220=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA219.