Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 accident near Walland, Tennessee, December 28, 2023
On December 28, 2023 at about 6:40 pm local time, a 1983 Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, registered N571CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Walland, Tennessee. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper installation of the No. 8 bearing spanner nut, which resulted in the No. 8 bearing’s failure, and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2023 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Walland, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, built 1983 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N571CJ · registry record · serial 45781
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 35 minutes into the local sightseeing tour flight the pilot observed the engine chip light illuminate on the instrument panel. The pilot immediately began maneuvering toward a landing area and, within a few seconds, he heard an abnormal noise from the engine and saw the engine’s oil temperature and pressure indications decrease to zero. The pilot entered an autorotation and, shortly after, the engine stopped producing power. During the autorotation landing to a field, the helicopter touched down hard, skidded forward, and the main rotor blades contacted one of the vertical stabilizers, nearly severing the tailboom. Subsequent examination of the helicopter’s engine revealed that no locking crimp had been made on the No. 8 bearing spanner nut during the last assembly, which allowed the nut to lose its torque, ultimately resulting in thermal damage and disintegration of the No. 8 bearing. This resulted in the compressor turbine shaft losing its retention and concentric location. The No. 8 bearing spanner nut had a partial crimp that exhibited a tool pry mark consistent with its removal during the last disassembly; however, it had not been blended away, nor had a new crimp been applied, consistent with the procedures described by the engine manufacturer’s overhaul manual. Additionally, the inside of the bearing’s sump cover showed rotational scoring consistent with contact with the No. 8 bearing spanner nut during engine operation, and rub damage on the power turbine support and 2nd stage turbine wheel, which was indicative of a loss of axial and radial retention of the gas producer rotor. This condition ultimately resulted in the total loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Turbine section › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,785 hours in all; 880 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,730 as pilot in command; 580 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,059.2 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 26, 2023; 57.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce RR 250 C28-B (turbojet); 13,436 hours total
- Operator: Whirl'D Helicopters Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 03TN Sevierville TN at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from TYS, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTYS 281853Z 24011KT 10SM SCT034 08/01 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP097 T00830006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Helicopter damage at the accident site.
Photograph 2 – Damaged tail boom after recovery.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on March 18, 2026. 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 | Record of Conversation_pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Powerplants Factual Report | PDF, 23 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Examination Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos_accident Site and Damage | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Wreckage Retention and Release_signed | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Certification of Party Representative to an NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | 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.