Accident Overview
On August 22, 2025, at approximately 1130 central daylight time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3 helicopter, registration N17TL, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Picayune, Mississippi. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight Purpose and Maneuver
The purpose of the flight was to inspect a hangar being built for the operator at the Picayune Municipal Airport. The pilot reported that he routinely practices several maneuvers during each flight. On this occasion, he was practicing a “quick stop” simulated emergency procedure.
Sequence of Events
At the conclusion of the maneuver, as the pilot pulled up on the collective to recover, he heard the low rotor RPM warning horn sound. He verified that the throttle control was at full RPM, but noticed that the helicopter was no longer responding to the collective control. The pilot immediately entered an autorotation from about 50 feet. When the helicopter contacted the taxiway, the left skid collapsed, the helicopter skidded about 15 feet, and came to a stop upright. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom.
Investigation and Aircraft Disposition
The accident was not reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) until February 26, 2026. In the intervening period, the helicopter was sold for salvage by the owner’s insurance company, and the airframe was disassembled for repair by the new owner. Due to the current disposition of the airframe, examination is not feasible.
The accident was not known to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) until the new owner attempted to register the helicopter with the FAA in January 2026. At the time of notification, only the Rolls-Royce 250-C30P turboshaft engine was able to be secured for further examination. The disposition of the turboshaft engine between the accident and its recovery for further examination could not be determined. The engine will be examined at a future date.