Bell 212 accident near Mesa, Arizona, June 21, 2011
On June 21, 2011 at about 1:34 pm local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N49678, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Mesa, Arizona. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while in a low hover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2011 · about 1:34 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N49678 · no longer on the register · serial 30743
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after he established the helicopter in a stabilized hover about 3 feet above the ground with the crew chief following on the controls with him, the helicopter rapidly rolled right. The pilot was unable to correct the roll, and the helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter's fuselage sustained substantial damage, and the cockpit area was consumed by postimpact fire. Ground scars about 20 feet behind the main wreckage revealed that the tail section contacted the ground first. The pilot reported and a postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- 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; instructor: instrument helicopter; instructor: powered-lift; instrument: helicopter; instrument: powered-lift; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 7,021 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,568 as pilot in command; 433 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 19, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,460 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 11,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P&W PT6T-3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PT6T-3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Boeing CO
The flight
- Departed from: AZ81 Mesa AZ at 1:12 pm
- Destination: AZ81 Mesa AZ
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 1:36 pm from FFZ, 5 miles away
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.