Bell 206B accident near Henryetta, Oklahoma, December 20, 2003
On December 20, 2003 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N62HF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Henryetta, Oklahoma (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate visual look out and failure to maintain clearance from guy wire while maneuvering for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 20, 2003 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Henryetta, Oklahoma · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N62HF · registry record · serial 1792
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was attempting to land in a field near a local automobile dealership when his tail boom became entangled in a guy wire. The pilot reported making two close, left-hand patterns around the area to select the best landing site. After a site was determined to be safe, he made an additional short downwind, base and final steep approach into the wind. The pilot further reported that he was aware of the power lines, but did not see the light-gray colored wire that ran between them. After making several attempts to maintain a level attitude, the pilot gently lowered the nose of the helicopter onto the ground and rested it on the front of the skids, with the tail still snagged in the wire.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 563 hours in all; 347 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command; 152 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,377 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 2003; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GKY Arlington TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Henryetta OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from OKM, 15 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.