Bell 206 accident near Elko, Nevada, May 30, 2020
On May 30, 2020 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1981 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N401HP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Elko, Nevada (Elko Rgnl airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control in gusting wind that resulted in a loss in altitude and subsequent collision with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2020 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B, built 1981 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N401HP · no longer on the register · serial 3314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed in the helicopter, directly into the wind, and began a climb and turn to the downwind. During the turn, the helicopter encountered a wind gust and lost altitude as if it were settling. The pilot tried to maneuver the helicopter back to the airport property to land, however, the landing skids caught a fence. The helicopter nosed over and came to rest on its left side substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. A weather station at the airport reported the wind from 180° at 25 kts with gusts to 36 kts.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
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 › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,441 hours in all; 4.9 in this make and model; 14.3 in the last 90 days; 4.9 in the last 30 days; 1,018 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 12, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,039 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 2020
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison M250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLF Milford UT at 7:00 pm
- Destination: EKO Elko NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 21 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Observation at 9:03 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 2, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photograph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.