Bell 206 accident near Raleigh, North Carolina, November 8, 2020
On November 8, 2020 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1971 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N123NC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Raleigh, North Carolina (Garner Road Heliport airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom, and impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2020 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh, North Carolina · Garner Road Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 A, built 1971 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N123NC · registry record · serial 610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After flying for about 1.5 hours on a training flight, the pilot of the helicopter returned to the operator’s hangar and aborted two approaches after encountering vortex ring state. He decided to land at a nearby facility to have the occupant disembark to reduce the gross weight of the helicopter, and to improve the power available margin. He departed and attempted a third approach to the hangar. At about 300 ft agl, the helicopter again encountered vortex ring state; however, there was not enough altitude to successfully complete the same recovery maneuver. The helicopter began losing altitude rapidly and while descending it impacted the tops of several trees. A main rotor blade then contacted the tail rotor drive shaft, which immediately resulted in a surge of the engine, followed by a yaw of the helicopter to the right. The pilot then conducted an autorotative landing into the middle of a nearby road. The helicopter’s tailboom, main rotor, and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,878 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 1,587 as pilot in command; 897 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 27, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,447.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 18, 2020
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce C20B (turboshaft); 9,040 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JNX Smithfield NC at 6:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.33 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KRDU, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRDU 081851Z 13008KT 10SM BKN040 BKN250 25/16 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP268 T02500161
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on June 24, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement from Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Statement from Passenger Who Just Disembarked | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of NTSB Conversation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | 3NC2 Approach and Departure Diagrams | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.