Bell 206L3 accident near Arcadia, Florida, January 15, 1994
On January 15, 1994 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Bell 206L3 (helicopter), registered N86CE, was destroyed in an accident near Arcadia, Florida. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF AN UNQUALIFIED PILOT WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF TO A HOVER. THIS RESULTED IN AN ON GROUND LOSS OF CONTROL (DYNAMIC ROLL OVER). THE IMPROPER FLIGHT CONTROL INPUT (CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE) BY THE UNQUALIFIED PILOT AND PILOT-IN-COMMAND, AND THE LACK OF WRITTEN PROCEDURES (OPERATIONS MANUAL) APPROVED BY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WERE FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1994 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Arcadia, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L3 · all 206L3s on the register
- Registration
- N86CE · no longer on the register · serial 51400
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command allowed an unqualified pilot to attempt a takeoff to a hover with the pilot-in-command following through on the flight controls. As the helicopter became light on the skids, the helicopter tilted to the left. The unqualified pilot let go of the flight controls. The pilot-in-command remained on the flight controls, and the helicopter rolled over on it's right side.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,138 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 136 in the last 90 days; 8,545 as pilot in command; 717 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 384 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 18, 1993; 40 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: NONE at 5:20 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from FMY, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N86CE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.