Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Collision during takeoff/land: Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III, N29AE, accident occurred on July 29, 2026, at Air Evac 16 Heliport (6AL4), Tuscumbia, Alabama


  • Location: Tuscumbia, Alabama
  • Accident Number: ERA26LA285 
  • Date & Time: July 29, 2026, 10:08 Local 
  • Registration: N29AE 
  • Aircraft: Bell 206L-3 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land 
  • Injuries: 2 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Discretionary)

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203515/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203515

The pilot was making a right pedal turn in an attempt to land on the helipad when the tail rotor struck a standpipe on the fuel farm. The helicopter began to become unstable, but the pilot immediately lowered the collective and the helicopter landed upright on the helipad. Neither the pilot nor the two crew members were injured. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed damage to the tail rotor blades and substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

- Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to keep the tail rotor clear of an obstacle while attempting to land.

Cessna R182 Skylane RG, N6346T, accident occurred on September 1, 2026, near Lebanon Municipal Airport (M54), Lebanon, Tennessee

  • Location: Lebanon, TN 
  • Accident Number: ANC26LA096 
  • Date & Time: September 1, 2026, 18:15 Local 
  • Registration: N6346T 
  • Aircraft: Cessna R182 
  • Injuries: 1 Minor 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203728/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6346T

On September 1, 2026, about 1815 eastern daylight time, a Cessna R182 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lebanon, Tennessee. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. 

The pilot reported that he picked up the airplane following an annual inspection and planned a 20-minute flight to his home airport. After he visually verified 20 gallons of fuel was in the fuel tanks and completed a preflight inspection, he performed an engine run-up and noted no anomalies. After departure, when the airplane was about 500 ft above ground level (agl), the engine briefly sputtered, followed a few seconds later by a total loss of power. The pilot confirmed that the fuel selector was positioned to BOTH and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump. Unable to return to the airport, he performed a forced landing in a parking lot. Due to the limited amount of time to prepare for landing, the pilot did not extend the flaps or lower the landing gear. The airplane came to rest in the parking lot and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. 

The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. 

During recovery, about 13 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank and about 8 gallons were recovered from the left fuel tank. A postaccident examination of the fuel system, including the fuel lines and fuel supply, revealed no anomalies. The engine controls, enginedriven fuel pump, and electric boost pump functioned normally. The propeller was replaced, and an alternate fuel source was connected to the fuel system. After the engine was primed, it started immediately and ran continuously for 1 minute without an interruption in power.