Bell 206L3 accident near Salt Marsh, April 29, 2000
On April 29, 2000 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Bell 206L3 (helicopter), registered N17237, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salt Marsh. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The company mechanic's failure to replace the bolt's cotter key properly and the subsequent loss of the nut, which then resulted in the tail rotor control disconnection and the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2000 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Marsh
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L3 · all 206L3s on the register
- Registration
- N17237 · no longer on the register · serial 51478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the helicopter lost tail rotor response while approaching an offshore platform. The pilot elected to make an autorotative emergency landing to the water. According to witnesses, the helicopter began the autorotation and proceeded to rotate to the left and 'pitch nose down.' The helicopter entered a steep descent, and the pilot reported that he could not control the helicopter. Prior to impacting the water, the helicopter assumed level flight and the emergency floats deployed. Upon impact with the water, the helicopter rolled right and came to rest inverted in the water. According to the operator's maintenance superintendent, a mechanic either omitted a bolt's cotter key or installed it improperly, which resulted in the disconnect of the tail rotor control rod assembly from the control lever located at the rear of the tail rotor gear box.
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
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,672 hours in all; 720 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 12,892 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,785 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 1, 2000; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 78B Salt Marsh GM at 10:35 pm
- Destination: 61C
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.