Bell 206 accident near Lucerne Valley, California, March 16, 2021
On March 16, 2021 at about 2:45 pm local time, a 1991 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N6133C, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Lucerne Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering with a tailwind, resulting in the helicopter spinning and colliding with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 2021 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lucerne Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L3, built 1991 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N6133C · registry record · serial 51544
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed from a dry lakebed with the intention of making a local flight for the passenger to photograph the area. He noted that the wind was from the southwest between 12-15 kts. After departure, the pilot was maneuvering the helicopter to the southeast about 300 ft above ground level (agl), where he was using the helicopter controls to compensate for a tailwind. The helicopter began to yaw to the right and the pilot attempted to regain control by applying full left pedal. Despite his attempts, the helicopter continued to rotate, and the yaw rate was increasing in speed. The helicopter descended and when it neared the ground, the pilot flared to cushion the touchdown for the rapid descent rate. The tail collided with the ground, followed by the skids contacting the desert floor hard; the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The fuselage and tail boom were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Ability to respond/compensate
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 555 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 511 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 30, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 2020; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C30P (turboshaft); 3,646 hours total
- Operator: Redlands Heliflight LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Lucern Valley CA at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 am from KL35, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KL35 161455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM M04/M09 A2989 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photograph of Helicopter (Photo Provided by the Pilot) | 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.