Bell 206B accident near Murietta, California, April 27, 2008
On April 27, 2008 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N526DL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Murietta, California (French Valley Airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. A contributing factor to the accident was the dual student's improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2008 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Murietta, California · French Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N526DL · no longer on the register · serial 3215
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was receiving instruction and reported that during the seventh practice full touchdown autorotation, the helicopter touched down on the aft part of the landing skids and started to rock forward. He stated he applied aft cyclic to prevent the helicopter from rolling forward, and one of the main rotor blades subsequently struck the tail boom. The flight instructor said that he was unable to react in time to level the helicopter prior to touchdown. Examination of the helicopter revealed structural damage to the tail boom and tail rotor drive shaft. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the flight control system. The pilot stated in the "How could this accident have been prevented?" section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form, "proper execution of a full down autorotation by fully leveling the aircraft before touchdown."
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,296 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Go Heli LLC
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Murietta CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KRIV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.