No fatalities

BELL 206 A accident at Raleigh, NC, 8 Nov 2020

Raleigh, NC, United States

On November 8, 2020, a BELL 206 A operated by North Carolina State Highway Patrol was involved in an aviation accident near Raleigh, NC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom, and impact with the ground. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom, and impact with the ground.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Nov 2020 BELL 206 A accident near Raleigh, NC?

The pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom, and impact with the ground.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Nov 2020 BELL 206 A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Nov 2020 involved a BELL 206 A, operated by North Carolina State Highway Patrol, at Raleigh, NC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom, and impact with the ground.