Bell 206 accident near Yarraden, Au, September 22, 2018
On September 22, 2018 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered VHHZO, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Yarraden. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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
- September 22, 2018 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Yarraden, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- VHHZO · no longer on the register · serial 2839
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 22, 2018, at 2045 coordinated universal time, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration VH-HZO, sustained substantial damage after colliding with the ground following a total loss of power near Yarraden, Australia. The pilot was not injured. The three passengers each received minor injuries. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia. This report is for information purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, Civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Tel.: (61) 2 6230-4408 (24/7 Notifications) (61) 2 6257-4150 (International liaison) E-mail:atsbasir@atsb.gov.au (Notifications) ATSBInternationalReporting@atsb.gov.au (International liaison) Fax: (61) 2 6274-6434 (Notifications) (61) 26247-3117 (International liaison) Website: http://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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
Pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,199 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- 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 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.