Bell 206L-1 accident near Tomball, Texas, October 7, 1985
On October 7, 1985 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N515EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tomball, Texas (David Wayne Hooks airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1985 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Tomball, Texas · David Wayne Hooks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N515EH · no longer on the register · serial 45364
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF A HARD LANDING DURING AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION FOLLOWING A COMPLETE POWER LOSS. THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF AN UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 TURBINE WHEEL. THE WHEEL BURST AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE TURBINE TO COMPRESSOR COUPLING WHICH ALLOWED THE SHAFT TO DECOUPLE. WHEN THE TURBINE SECTION DECOUPLED THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN OVERSPEED. THE ORGIN OF THE FATIGUE FRACTURE WAS FOUND IN THE SCALLOP AREA ON THE TURBINE END OF THE SHAFT. THE ENG FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW ALTITUDE ON DEPARTURE AND THE PLT HAD TO MANEUVER THE ACFT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE ONLY AVAILABLE FORCED LANDING AREA.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,333 hours in all; 3,444 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 4,143 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,764 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 23, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dhl Airways, INC.
The flight
- Destination: IAH Houston TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from CXO, 15 miles away
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.
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.