Bell 206B accident near Long Beach, California, September 6, 2003
On September 6, 2003 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N59506, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate remedial action in response to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2003 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N59506 · no longer on the register · serial 1347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost directional control of the helicopter while maneuvering and the helicopter impacted water and sank. The pilot was manuevering over a boat race and was flying over the start line about 400 feet agl, on a magnetic heading between 235 to 240. He felt the helicopter drifting north and east. A turn was initiated; however, simultaneously, the helicopter "shuddered and snapped into a rapid right yaw." Left antitorque pedal was applied but the helicopter continued to turn 360 degrees repeatedly while losing altitude. Just prior to impact, the pilot pulled up on the collective and pushed the cyclic into a forward right position intending to assist the main rotor blades in stopping. The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook states that a loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) is the occurrence of an uncommanded yaw rate that does not subside on its own accord, which can result in the loss of helicopter control. The recovery technique for LTE is full left pedal while simultaneously moving cyclic control forward to increase airspeed. If altitude permits, reduce 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 268 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison A250-320 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAJO Corona CA at 11:35 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from KLGB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.