Bell 206 accident near Northland, New Zealand, Nz, January 20, 2011
On January 20, 2011 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered ZKISF, was destroyed in an accident near Northland, New Zealand. It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). 1 person had minor injuries.
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 20, 2011 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Northland, New Zealand, New Zealand
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L3 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- ZKISF · no longer on the register · serial 51145
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 20, 2011, about 12:15 local time, the a Bell 206L3 registered ZK-ISF, ditched into the ocean off the north coast of Auckland, New Zealand. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported that during straight and level flight at about 1000 feet MSL, he experienced a loss of engine power and crashed into the water. The rotorcraft was submerged in about 50 feet of water. The rotorcraft was retrieved and examined by the New Zealand TAIC authority. The engine was torn down and examined in New Zealand. The fuel pump, FCU and power turbine governor were removed and sent to Rolls Royce in the USA. Rolls Royce then sent the units to the Honeywell facilities in South Bend, Indiana for teardown and examination. The investigation is being conducted by the New Zealand Accident Investigation Commission. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: NEW ZEALAND The Chief Executive Officer Transport Accident Investigation Commission 11 Cigna House 40 Mercer Street P.O. Box 10-323 Wellington 6143 New Zealand Tel.: (64) 4-473-0199 (24 hours) (64) 4-473-3112 E-mail: inquiries@taic.org.nz Fax: (64) 4-499-1510 AFTN: NZHOYAYX Cable: CIVAIR NZ Website: http://www.taic.org.nz
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
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Finlayson Helicopters Ltd.
The flight
- Departed from: Northland, New Zealand
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.