Helio H800 accident near Cody, Wyoming, June 7, 2003
On June 7, 2003 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Helio H800, registered N4035K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cody, Wyoming (Yellowstone Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper preflight planning and his failure to maintain aircraft control when returning to the airport. Factors contributing to the accident were the oil leak, the attempted precautionary landing, and the downdraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2003 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cody, Wyoming · Yellowstone Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H800
- Registration
- N4035K · no longer on the register · serial H-6
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported, "A few seconds after becoming airborne, oil began splashing onto the windscreen and boiling out of the cowling around the oil cap access door." The pilot decided to land immediately. The pilot said he maintained runway heading to gain some altitude, approximately 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl). He said he flew beyond the departure end of the runway and then made a 180-degree turn back to the airport. The pilot said he lowered flaps and began his descent. At approximately 150 feet agl, the pilot said he encountered "a severe downdraft, which caused the airplane to sink at a rapid rate. Although I immediately added full power, I was unable to overcome the downdraft." The airplane impacted terrain off the departure end of the runway causing substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, undercarriage, and vertical stabilizer. An examination of the airplane showed the oil cap off and the dip stick out. The examination also showed oil streaks around the oil filler door, across the top of the engine cowling, and on the inside of the engine cowling. The weather conditions approximately 5 minutes after the accident were clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and winds at 130 degrees magnetic at 5 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,154 hours in all; 587 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,154 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 9, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 918 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2003; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COD Cody WY at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Soldier'S Bar ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 8,276 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from COD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.