Bell 206B accident near Watson, Oklahoma, August 4, 1986
On August 4, 1986 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N33W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watson, Oklahoma. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 4, 1986 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Watson, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N33W · registry record · serial 930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT OF BELL 206B CONDUCTING FORESTRY OPERATIONS EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH FIRE DISPENSING APPARATUS BEING SLUNG BENEATH AIRCRAFT WHILE RETURNING TO HELIPAD FOR FUEL. PILOT LANDED, RELEASED EXTERNAL LOAD, AND GOT OUT OF AIRCRAFT TO RELEASE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. UPON RESUMING HIS FLIGHT HE WAS UNAWARE THAT A CABLE FROM THE RELEASED LOAD WAS CAUGHT ACROSS HIS RIGHT SKID. THE COMPANY MECHANIC WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ALERT THE PILOT AS HE TOOK OFF BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET HIS ATTENTION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS THE EXTERNAL LOAD WAS INADVERTENTLY LIFTED AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SEVERE OSCILLATION. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED SMALL TREES PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT, WHO HOLDS AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATING, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,116 hours in all; 43 in the last 90 days; 1,436 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,579 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 12, 1986; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Weyerhaeuser CORP.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
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.