Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 accident near Glide, Oregon, August 27, 2021
On August 27, 2021 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 1979 Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, registered N303AE, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Glide, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during an aerial application.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2021 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Glide, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, built 1979 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N303AE · registry record · serial 45348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the helicopter reported that, while conducting an aerial application over an open area, the main rotor blades struck a tree that he had previously not seen. Subsequently, the helicopter began to spin to the left and impacted the terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 29,000 hours in all; 140,016 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 27,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: North Wind Aviation LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 6:22 am from KRBG, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRBG 271322Z AUTO 35009KT 10SM SCT015 OVC030 17/12 A3009 RMK AO2 T01720122
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 December 9, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | 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.