Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 accident near Canal Winchester, Ohio, October 27, 2024
On October 27, 2024 at about 6:35 pm local time, a 1978 Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, registered N54AE, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Canal Winchester, Ohio. It was a positioning flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2024 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Canal Winchester, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, built 1978 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N54AE · registry record · serial 45157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the enroute portion of the flight, a large bird impacted the top of the helicopter’s fuselage and main rotor, resulting in substantial damage to a pitch control link and a subsequent vibration. The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing in a nearby field and was able to land uneventfully.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,160 hours in all; 4,800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40,027 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 26, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce M250-C30P (turboshaft); 923 hours total
- Operator: Air Evac Ems INC
The flight
- Departed from: Columbus OH at 6:23 pm
- Destination: Lancaster OH
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.33 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from LCK, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLCK 271855Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 14/M01 A3033 RMK AO2 T01361012
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Helicopter on Scene
Photograph 2 – Damage to the Pitch Control Link
Photograph 3 – Damaged Pitch Control LinkThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2025. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.