Individually Owned: 151,845
Corporate Owned: 143,699
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Cushing, Oklahoma 74023
Saturday, June 26, 2004 20:41 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
While maneuvering during a local sightseeing flight, the helicopter impacted power lines, crashed into a river, and came to rest 90 percent submerged in the water approximately 1,500 feet from the power lines. According to the operator, the helicopter was providing sightseeing rides for guests at a birthday party. Approximately 1 hour prior to the accident, a witness observed the accident helicopter flying reckless near his residence. According to the accident flight passengers, the helicopter departed and flew west toward a nearby river. One passenger reported, "Once we arrived [at the river], he descended to within a few feet over the riverbed and then flew up into the power lines." Another passenger, who was seated in the rear center seat and looking out the windscreen, stated he could see the river and the sun out of the windscreen. The passengers did not see the power lines; however, one observed sparks and flying debris after contact with the power lines. The passengers stated the helicopter shook violently and impacted the water. Examination of the helicopter revealed the power lines impacted the helicopter's upper wire cutter, main rotor mast, and main rotor blade pitch links. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to impact with the power lines. The reported sunset on the day of the accident was 3 minutes after the impact with the power lines.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Contributing factors were low altitude flight, sun glare, and the static wires.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 6/26/2004 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 2041 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Cushing |
| Event State | OKLAHOMA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 74023 |
| Event Date Year | 2004 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 360300N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0984501W |
| Event Location Airport | -- |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | -- |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1953 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 280 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | SWO |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 989 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 25 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Dusk |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 26 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 21 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 110 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.03 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Light |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 2 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 3 |
| Injury Total All | 5 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 17305 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Operations Center |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jun 26 2004 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 2230 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Feb 24 2005 9:13AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\JOHB |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N27TV |
| NTSB Number | FTW04FA167 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Bell |
| Aircraft Model | 206B |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 3764 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 3200 |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 5 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Mar 1 2004 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 6394.5 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Interstate Helicopters, Inc. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 941 SW 22nd |
| Aircraft Owner City | Oklahoma City |
| Aircraft Owner State | OK |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 73109 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | -- |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | -- |
| Operator State | -- |
| Operator Country | -- |
| Operator Zip code | -- |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | -- |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | -- |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | -- |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | -- |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | Business |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | -- |
| Departure City | Cushing |
| Departure State | OK |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 2015 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | -- |
| Destination City | -- |
| Destination State | -- |
| Destination Country | -- |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Maneuvering |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | Yes |
| Date of most recent change to record | -- |
| User who most recently changed record | -- |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | NA |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | Yes |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |