Bell 206 N49720
6 May 1991 · Searchlight, Nevada, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 6 May 1991 at about 07:01 local time, a Bell 206 registered N49720, operated by Helicopter Svc's NV, was involved in an accident near Searchlight, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 07:01
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Searchlight, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.4900, -114.8901
- Aircraft
- Bell 206
- Registration
- N49720
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Helicopter Svc's NV
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- Unk
- Light
- Not Reported
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA205
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
CANNOT BE DETERMINED IN THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS STOLEN AND THE CERTAINTY OF THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL OR ACCIDENTAL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A BELL HELICOPTER 206 WAS STOLEN FROM THE OPERATOR DURING A ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT. A PASSENGER WAS FIRST TRANSPORTED BETWEEN TWO AIRPORTS. THE PASSENGER THEN ASKED THE PILOT TO FLY BY A MINE SITE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED AT THE MINE SITE AND WAS GREETED BY AN INDIVIDUAL CARRYING A RIFLE. THE PILOT WAS ASSAULTED AND KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN FLOWN AWAY. THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND THREE DAYS LATER BY POLICE ABANDONED ON UNEVEN DESERT TERRAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS DESCRIBED AS 'ROLLED UP IN A BALL.' TRACES OF BLOOD AND HAIR WERE FOUND IN THE HELICOPTER'S OVERHEAD STRUCTURE ABOVE THE PILOT'S SEAT. SAMPLES OF THE BLOOD AND HAIR DID NOT MATCH THOSE OF THE ASSAILED PILOT. THE HELICOPTER HAD ROLLED OVER DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT. THE TIME AND DATE OF THE ACCIDENT CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THE IDENTITY OF THE PILOT CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THE THEFT OF THE HELICOPTER IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 1991 | Bell 206L-1 | Lake Alpine, California, United States | Rogers Helicopters Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Nov 1991 | Bell 206BIII | Davis, California, United States | Aris Helicopter Ltd | Fatal | 3 |
| 16 Feb 1991 | Bell 206-B | Kodiak, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Mar 1991 | Bell 206B | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Kenai Air of Hawaii, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 7 May 1991 | Bell 206B-3 | Houston, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Bell 206L-1 | S Tim Blk 198 | Evergreen Equity, Inc | Fatal | 2 |
All 1,732 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Joseph Pastuszek | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft V-35 | Minden, Nevada, United States | Sanford Friezner | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Schweizer SGS 126E | Sutcliffe, Nevada, United States | Nevada Soaring Assoc., Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1991 | Hiller UH12D | Sparks, Nevada, United States | Pathfinder Technology Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 1991 | Boeing 737-3G7 | Elko, Nevada, United States | America West Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1991 | North American AT-6G | Reno, Nevada, United States | James A. Mott | Minor injuries | - |