Bell 206-L3 accident near Mysore, In, January 18, 2008
On January 18, 2008 at about 10:00 am local time, a Bell 206-L3 (helicopter), registered VTDAK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mysore. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- January 18, 2008 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- Mysore, India
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-L3 · all 206-L3s on the register
- Registration
- VTDAK · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 18, 2008, at 1000 local time, a Bell 206 L3, Indian registry VT-DAK, lost directional control while on approach to a helipad near Mysore, India. Deccan Aviation was operating the helicopter under the regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority, India. At approximately 10 feet above the ground, the pilot stated that the helicopter began an uncommanded right yaw. Left anti torque pedal was applied and did not correct the yaw. The helicopter continued to spin to the right and contacted the ground left skid low before coming to rest on it's left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. Four persons received minor injuries and one person was not injured. Components to the tail rotor drive system and tail rotor assembly were removed and transported to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas for further examiunation. The NTSB accredited representative will attend and provide oversight for the DGAC of India. The accident is under the jurisdiction of, and is under investigation by, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India. For further information contact the DGCA at: Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) New Delhi 110 003, INDIA Tel: 91-011-246620272 Fax: 91-011-24633140
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
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Deccan Aviation
The flight
- Destination: Mysore
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 230° at 2 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:00 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
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.