Bell Helicopter CO 206B accident near Emerald Aerodrome, Au, November 18, 2017
On November 18, 2017 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Bell Helicopter CO 206B, registered VHSDZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Emerald Aerodrome. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
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
- November 18, 2017 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Emerald Aerodrome, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter CO 206B B
- Registration
- VHSDZ · no longer on the register · serial 4648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 18, 2017, about 1430 local time, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration VH-SDZ, rolled over following a precautionary landing near Emerald Aerodrome, Middlemount, Queensland, Australia. The helicopter, which was equipped with a Rolls-Royce 250 series turboshaft engine, sustained substantial damage and the two crewmembers were uninjured.The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the accident. As the state of manufacture of the engines, the NTSB has designated a US accredited representative to assist the ATSB in its investigation. All inquiries concerning this accident should be directed to the ATSB: Australian Transport Safety Bureau 62 Northbourne Avenue Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: 1 800 020 616 Tel: (02) 6257 4150 International: +61 2 6257 4150 https://www.atsb.gov.au/
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
- Roll over during landing defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,199 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce LTD 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helistar Aviation PTY LTD
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.