Bell 206B accident near Spring, Texas, July 30, 2014
On July 30, 2014 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1981 Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N866H, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Spring, Texas (David Wayne Hooks Airport). It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's distraction by a cell phone call, which led to his failure to perform an exterior check of the helicopter and resulted in a tie-down strap remaining attached to the main rotor during the engine start.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2014 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spring, Texas · David Wayne Hooks Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B, built 1981 · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N866H · registry record · serial 3291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he completed the preflight inspection of the helicopter while it was still in the hangar and that it was then moved onto the ramp. When the pilot arrived to start the helicopter, he was distracted by a cell phone call and did not perform an exterior check of the helicopter. The main rotor tie-down was still attached to the main rotor when the pilot engaged the engine. He was monitoring the cockpit gauges during the engine start when he noticed an individual approaching the helicopter waving his hands. He then heard a "thump," and he initiated an emergency shutdown. He reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The examination of the helicopter revealed that the tie-down strap had broken during the engine start and had gotten caught on the tail rotor output shaft, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor blades, and vertical fin.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › (general) › Not specified
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor › Tail rotor blade › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › (general) › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 23, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,201 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce C20B (turboshaft); 7,306 hours total
- Operator: Harris County Sheriff'S Office
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Houston TX
- Destination: DWH Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from DWH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 3, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB 6120-1 Pilot Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 – View of Tailboom Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 – View of Tail Rotor Blade Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 3 – View of the Main Rotor Tip Cap Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.