No fatalities

BELL 206L-3 NO SERIES accident at Covelo, CA, 28 Oct 2021

Covelo, CA, United States

On October 28, 2021, a BELL 206L-3 NO SERIES operated by Helico Sonoma Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Covelo, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A passenger’s unsecured object departed the cabin resulted in a collision with the tail rotor drive shaft. 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

A passenger’s unsecured object departed the cabin resulted in a collision with the tail rotor drive shaft.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PassengerContributed to outcome

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 28 Oct 2021 BELL 206L-3 NO SERIES accident near Covelo, CA?

A passenger’s unsecured object departed the cabin resulted in a collision with the tail rotor drive shaft.

Were there any fatalities in the 28 Oct 2021 BELL 206L-3 NO SERIES accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 28 Oct 2021 involved a BELL 206L-3 NO SERIES, operated by Helico Sonoma Inc., at Covelo, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A passenger’s unsecured object departed the cabin resulted in a collision with the tail rotor drive shaft.