Bell B206 L-3 accident near Marble Falls, Texas, October 22, 2005
On October 22, 2005 at about 7:32 pm local time, a Bell B206 L-3 (helicopter), registered N941SL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marble Falls, Texas (Helipad, Marble Falls, Texas airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A hard landing as result of a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2005 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- Marble Falls, Texas · Helipad, Marble Falls, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell B206 L-3
- Registration
- N941SL · registry record · serial 51331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 6,900-hour commercial helicopter pilot was returning to his home base helipad after a public relations static display mission at a nearby airport. The flight included a planned fuel stop at an intermediate airport on the way back to home base. During the approach, while the helicopter was approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL), the pilot reported in the Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that available engine power continued to decrease while he maintained a constant pitch setting on the approach. The pilot initiated the immediate action steps of the emergency procedures for a loss of engine power by confirming that the throttle was in the full-open position while lowering the collective to initiate an autorotation. The pilot was forced to increase collective pitch to avoid power lines which resulted in a decay of rotor RPM to 90 percent available for the landing. The aircraft touched down tail low while in a decelerating flare and the tail stinger contacted the ground first. As additional collective pitch was applied to cushion the landing, the pilot leveled the aircraft and landed upright on the intended helipad. The pilot and his two passengers were uninjured and the helicopter sustained structural damage. The engine was removed from the helicopter and shipped to the factory for examination and test run. An FAA inspector from provided on-site assistance to insure the engine was properly crated and shipped to the factory. The engine evaluation and test run was performed on November 9, 2005, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. A written statement provided by the inspector stated that no discrepancies were noted during all phases of the engine run and that the engine produced above rated power at take off power setting. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,903 hours in all; 5,125 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,577 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,947.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 1, 2005; 6.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBMQ Burnet TX at 7:23 pm
- Destination: AE49 Marble Falls TX
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 DFW06CA011.