Bell 206 accident near Hydro, Oklahoma, January 21, 2024
On January 21, 2024 at about 5:23 am local time, a 1991 Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N295AE, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Hydro, Oklahoma. It was a positioning flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter’s inflight collision with cackling geese, resulting in an inflight breakup.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2024 · about 5:23 am local time
- Place
- Hydro, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L3+, built 1991 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N295AE · registry record · serial 51455
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was en route back to the crew’s home airfield when it encountered a flock of geese during the night flight. The helicopter was in cruise flight about 500-600 ft above ground level and at 110 knots groundspeed when the encounter occurred. The bird strike resulted in an inflight breakup of the helicopter and subsequent impact with terrain. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. Bird strike signatures were located on the main rotor pitch change links, which were both fractured in overload. Loss of a main rotor pitch change link would result in the loss of main rotor blade pitch directional control, vibrations, and excessive blade flapping. DNA testing found that all remains were consistent with female cackling geese, which have an average mass of 4.2 pounds Preflight mission planning for the flight would likely not have detected a risk for a bird strike. A review of military and civilian bird hazard websites showed that at the time of the accident, the probability of bird strike in that area was deemed to be low. In addition, historic migration data also estimated the probability of a bird strike at the time of the accident as low.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,282 hours in all; 934 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 5,282 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 26, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,401.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 16, 2024; 8.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 22,228 hours total
- Operator: Air Evac Ems INC
The flight
- Departed from: OL16 Oklahoma City OK at 4:58 am
- Destination: 4OK1 Weatherford OK
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from KOJA, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOJA 210535Z AUTO 16007KT 10SM CLR M07/M14 A3039 RMK AO2 T10701136
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2025. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Bell Helicopter Component Examination | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Smithsonian Bird Identification Report | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | ADS-B Data | spreadsheet · our copy | Download |
| 6 | USAF Ahas Data | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Birdcast Data | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Certification of Party Representative | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | FAA Saib AIR-21-17R1 | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Company Safety Improvements | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15A | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
Other NTSB records under N295AE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.