Bell 206B3 accident near Eureka, Utah, November 13, 2004
On November 13, 2004 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B3 (helicopter), registered N130JH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eureka, Utah. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making and failure to maintain obstacle clearance, resulting in contact with a power transmission line. Contributing factors include the intentional low-level maneuver, the power transmission line, and the pilot's inadequate visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2004 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eureka, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B3 · all 206B3s on the register
- Registration
- N130JH · registry record · serial 4166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was flying above a highway and was repositioning for a filming operation. He approached a hill and climbed to an altitude of approximately 100 feet agl. After cresting the hill, he scanned the area ahead. He noticed a series of power transmission poles, paralleling the right side of the road ahead, but did not see any on the left. The pilot descended to approximately 30 feet agl to continue to follow the road. As he leveled out, at approximately 40 knots, the helicopter struck a power transmission line that stretched across the road. The pilot stated that he saw a "flash," and felt the helicopter begin to "vibrate and shake." He stated that he had cyclic and collective control, and attempted a forced landing on the road. The helicopter impacted the road, slid approximately 50 yards into the right side ditch. When the helicopter came to a stop, it rocked up on its nose, and the main rotor blades struck the ground. As the main rotor assembly pitched backward, the main rotor blades severed the tail boom, and then the main rotor hub and blade assembly separated from the mast. The helicopter remained upright and on its landing skids.
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: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,484 hours in all; 1,706 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,665 as pilot in command; 518 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 5, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 88.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Faust UT at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Eureka UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 80 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KPVU, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN05LA024.