Bell 206B accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, February 23, 1993
On February 23, 1993 at about 11:25 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N224TV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Downtown Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PASSENGERS INADVERTENT CONTROL INTERFERENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE PASSENGER
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1993 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Downtown Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N224TV · no longer on the register · serial 2482
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A HELICOPTER PILOT ALLOWED THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF HIS HELICOPTER TO LIGHTLY RIDE THE CONTROLS WHILE HE DEMONSTRATED THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE AT A 3 FOOT HOVER. THE PASSENGER APPLIED TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE CYCLIC WHICH CAUSED THE REAR OF THE RIGHT SKID TO STRIKE THE GROUND WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING SIDEWARDS. THE STUCK RIGHT SKID CREATED A PIVOT POINT FOR A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,243 hours in all; 1,821 in this make and model; 6,168 as pilot in command; 1,140 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,601 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from OKC, 5 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.