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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 6, 1991 · Bell 206 · N49720

Searchlight, NV

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 6, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Searchlight, NV
Aircraft
Bell 206
Tail Number
N49720
Operator
Helicopter Svc S Nv
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX91LA205

A Bell Helicopter 206 was stolen from the operator during an 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.

NTSB 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.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:01 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206
Tail NumberN49720
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHelicopter Svc S Nv
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250 C18 · Turboshaft · 317
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightNr
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data