Bell 206L-3 accident near Reklaw, Texas, July 24, 1998
On July 24, 1998 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N42489, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reklaw, Texas. It was a public-use 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 maintain proper alignment in that the external load was not centered during sling operation, which resulted in entanglement of the load with the landing gear, and the loss of aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1998 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Reklaw, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N42489 · no longer on the register · serial 51474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was being used to perform sling load operations, transporting water to a fire in a bambi bucket. After completing a bucket drop on a fire, the pilot returned to the dip site and made an approach to a hover over the water. A witness observed the helicopter come in for the dip and 'the bucket was way back dragging across the water.' As the helicopter was lifting the bucket, it 'tipped to the passenger side and the rotor immediately hit the water.' The helicopter came to rest in the pond on its left side. Examination of the helicopter by the FAA inspector revealed witness marks, which were matched to the water bucket's cable, on the outside of the left skid just aft of the aft cross tube.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,944 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 7,662 as pilot in command; 901 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,093 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1998; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30S (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°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.
Other NTSB records under N42489 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.