Bell 206L1 accident near Paris, Arkansas, November 29, 2003
On November 29, 2003 at about 4:08 am local time, a Bell 206L1 (helicopter), registered N103AE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paris, Arkansas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to remove the main rotor tiedown prior to engine startup. Contributing factors were the pressure induced by conditions/events, improper preflight of the aircraft, and dark night conditions,
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 2003 · about 4:08 am local time
- Place
- Paris, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L1 · all 206L1s on the register
- Registration
- N103AE · registry record · serial 45597
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The medical evacuation helicopter was responding to a request for an air ambulance medical transfer. The operator reported that the aircraft experienced a blade separation from the aircraft during startup. The 10,650-hour pilot reported that he started the aircraft with the main rotor still tied down. Recognition of this error came too late in the start sequence, and one of the main rotor blades broke and separated from the aircraft. The preflight was "rushed" due to pressure induced by the air ambulance mission.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,650 hours in all; 3,376 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 9,870 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 33,139 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 21, 2003; 12.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7M6 Paris AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N103AE 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.