Bell 206B accident near Filer, Idaho, June 3, 2023
On June 3, 2023 at about 4:34 pm local time, a 1976 Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N205PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Filer, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper anti-torque pedal inputs during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff and subsequent dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2023 · about 4:34 pm local time
- Place
- Filer, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B, built 1976 · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N205PA · registry record · serial 1996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initially reported that while he was taking off, the tail dropped and hit the ground. After a postaccident review of a security video that captured the accident, the pilot along with his flight instructor concluded that he input excessive left anti-torque pedal as he increased collective. A National Transportation Safety Board review of the same security video showed the helicopter as it rotated counterclockwise about its vertical axis. The fuselage pivoted about the right skid and the helicopter exceeded its critical roll angle, which resulted in dynamic rollover. 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 operations.
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 takeoff defining event
- Dynamic rollover during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 167 in this make and model; 2.1 in the last 90 days; 2.1 in the last 30 days; 304 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 30, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,519.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2023; 2.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (turboshaft); 15,600 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KJER, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KJER 031553Z AUTO 23005KT 10SM CLR 16/08 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01610083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N205PA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR23LA214.