Bell 206B accident near Titusville, Florida, March 6, 2012
On March 6, 2012 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N83AP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Titusville, Florida (Training Area Echo airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's attempted takeoff in gusting wind conditions while the student pilot was adjusting her anti-torque pedals, which resulted in a dynamic rollover event.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2012 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Training Area Echo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N83AP · registry record · serial 4439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing the helicopter at a local training area so two students could switch seats, the flight instructor initiated a takeoff. The wind was 28 knots, gusting up to 40 knots, and the takeoff area was adjacent to a line of trees. When the flight instructor raised the collective, the helicopter immediately rolled to the right. The instructor attempted to stop the roll with opposite cyclic; however, this was unsuccessful and the helicopter came to rest inverted. The instructor shut down the engine, and he and the students exited the helicopter. Postaccident examination revealed that the student in the right cockpit seat was still adjusting her anti-torque pedals when the takeoff began. The operator reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The accident sequence was consistent with a "dynamic rollover" scenario.
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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,894 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command; 1,286 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 26, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 459 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 13, 2012; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TIX Titusville FL at 1:10 pm
- Destination: TIX Titusville FL
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 28 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:50 pm from TIX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.