Bell 206B accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 26, 2024
On March 26, 2024 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1993 Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N67183, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Baton Rouge Metro Airport). It was a public-use flight (state) 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 during takeoff that resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2024 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana · Baton Rouge Metro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B, built 1993 · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N67183 · registry record · serial 5120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (state) · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was positioned on a trailer when the pilot initiated a takeoff from the trailer. The pilot reported that the helicopter began a yaw to the right upon liftoff. He attempted to correct the yaw, but the helicopter continued to yaw. The pilot managed to regain some control and made a hard landing. The pilot’s supervisor was in his office near the trailer when he heard rapid tone changes in the rotor noise. He ran outside and saw the helicopter settle to the ground. He glanced at the helicopter, and it appeared undamaged. While the helicopter was still running, he climbed into the co-pilot side of the helicopter and performed a functional check. All controls functioned properly, and the gauges indicated normal. He then repositioned the helicopter back onto the trailer without incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions/failures of the helicopter 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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,548 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,348 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 23, 2023; 11,113 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce M250-C20J (turboshaft); 10,409 hours total
- Operator: State Of Louisiana
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KBTR
Weather report (METAR): KBTR 261753Z 03005KT 10SM 095 FEW 22/13 A2987
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Helicopter after Recovery
Photograph 2 – Substantial Damage to the Tailboom
Photograph 3 – Closeup of Substantial Damage to the TailboomThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 12, 2024. 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN24LA172 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement CEN24LA172 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photos CEN24LA172 | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.