Bell 206B-III accident near Sibu, Malaysia, My, April 11, 2011
On April 11, 2011 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Bell 206B-III (helicopter), registered N9MAXH, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Sibu, Malaysia. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2011 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sibu, Malaysia, Malaysia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-III · all 206B-IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N9MAXH · no longer on the register · serial 2480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 11, 2011, about 1350 coordinated universal time, a Bell 206B-III, 9M-AXH, collided with terrain during takeoff near Sibu, Malaysia. The pilot was fatally injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was operated by Sabah Air Aviation under the pertinent civil regulations of Malaysia. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Malaysia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Malaysia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Chief Inspector of Air Accidents Ministry of Transport Department of Civil Aviation Level 1, 2, 3 Block D5 Federal Government Administration Centre 62502 Putrajaya Malaysia Tel: (60) 3-8871-4000 Fax: (60) 3-8871-4069
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sabah Air Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Sibu, Malaysia
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.