What happened
On August 22, 2025, at approximately 11:30 CDT, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-3 helicopter, registration N17TL, was involved in an accident near Picayune, Mississippi. The flight was being operated under Part 91 for personal use, with the intent to inspect a hangar under construction at the Picayune Municipal Airport.
During the flight, the pilot was performing a simulated emergency procedure known as a "quick stop." As the pilot attempted to recover from the maneuver by pulling up on the collective, a low rotor RPM warning horn sounded. Although the pilot confirmed the throttle control was at full RPM, the aircraft stopped responding to collective inputs.
At an altitude of approximately 50 feet, the pilot initiated an immediate autorotation. Upon contacting the taxiway, the left skid of the helicopter collapsed. The aircraft skidded approximately 15 feet before coming to an upright stop. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The investigation
The accident was not reported to the NTSB until February 26, 2026. During the time between the event and the report, the aircraft was sold for salvage by the owner's insurance company, and the airframe was disassembled for repair by a new owner. Because of this, a full examination of the airframe was not feasible. The FAA was not notified of the accident until January 2026, when the new owner attempted to register the helicopter. Investigators were only able to secure the Rolls-Royce 250-C30P turboshaft engine for examination, though the engine's location and handling between the accident and its recovery could not be verified.