Bell 206 accident near Mendoza Province, Ar, December 12, 2015
On December 12, 2015 at about 11:00 am local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered LVVFD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mendoza Province. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed.
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
- December 12, 2015 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Mendoza Province, Argentina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- LVVFD · no longer on the register · serial 4229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 12, 2015, about 1100 coordinated universal time, a Bell-206, Argentinian registration LV-VFD, was destroyed during a low altitude cruise flight over a reservoir when the helicopter struck the water for undetermined reasons, and sank in approximately 200 feet of water. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The reservoir was located in the mountains near Potrerillos, Argentina, approximately 6,000 feet above sea level. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Argentina. Further information can be obtained from: Republic of Argentina National Directorate of Investigations (54) 11 4382-8890 / 91 E-mail: info@jiaac.gov.ar Avenida Belgrano 1370 – Piso 11 C1093AAO, Cuidad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Argentina.
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: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Potrerillos
- Destination: Potrerillos
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.