CEN25FA281

Factual narrative

On July 23, 2025, about 0630 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N2611, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Thibodaux, Louisiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural application flight. The operator reported the accident occurred during the first flight of the day while the pilot was applying pesticide to a sugar cane field. The field was oriented northeast-southwest (030° - 210°), and the crop was about 6 to 8 ft high. A tree line bordered the west edge of the field. Fields immediately east, north, and northeast of the field being sprayed were fallow. A set of powerlines was located about 180 ft from the north edge of the field being sprayed. The lines consisted of three transmission and two static lines. The static lines were about 85 ft above ground level (agl) at the supporting H-frames. The south static line was broken during the accident sequence. The fuselage came to rest lying on its left side, oriented on an approximate 115° heading, about 60 ft north of the south static line. The right landing skid forward of the attachment strut was separated and located about 70 ft south of the static line. The upper surface of the separated skid exhibited repetitive abrasion marks consistent with contact to a powerline. The fracture surface appeared consistent with an overstress failure. The engine and main rotor transmission remained securely attached to the airframe. The engine exhibited impact related damage to the left side but appeared otherwise intact. The main rotor mast was fractured at the transmission housing. The fracture surface appeared consistent with overstress. The separated portion of the mast with the rotor hub and inboard segments of the main rotor blades attached was lying adjacent to the fuselage. The outboard segments of both main rotor blades with the blade tips intact were located about 50 ft north of the fuselage. Figure 1 – Accident Site Figure 2 – Main Wreckage The tailboom was separated at the aft fuselage and fragmented. The aft 6-foot section of the tailboom was positioned about 110 ft northeast of the fuselage. The tail rotor blades and transmission remained attached and were intact. A 5-foot section of the tailboom with the horizontal stabilizers attached was located about 150 ft east of the fuselage. Figure 3 –Tailboom Figure 3 –Separated Right Landing Skid An AgNav unit has been retained for further examination and download. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained
• — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot