A routine refueling stop turned into a scare Friday afternoon when a helicopter clipped a tree while repositioning at a private airstrip near Springtown in Parker County, leaving the pilot with minor injuries.
The aircraft had already landed to refuel and was being moved when one of its rotor blades apparently struck a nearby tree, according to early reports from authorities. Emergency crews transported the pilot to a nearby hospital for treatment, and officials described the injuries as not life-threatening.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which cited WFAA-TV and the Texas Department of Public Safety, the helicopter had landed at a private airstrip near the 200 block of McVoid Road and was repositioning to refuel when “one of its blades hit a tree.” The Star-Telegram reported that DPS did not immediately respond to requests for further information.
Where It Happened
That stretch of McVoid Road is lined with rural properties that include private hangars and landing strips, and it is sometimes labeled “Airport Acres” on county plats. Per a Parker County precinct map, multiple parcels along McVoid Road carry airstrip designations, highlighting how tree-lined approaches can make takeoffs and landings at private fields feel a lot tighter than at a commercial airport.
Response And Condition
The Texas Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the Star-Telegram noted. Earlier this spring, the Parker County Hospital District opened a helipad in Springtown to speed air medical transfers, according to local reporting, though officials did not say that the station's pad played any role in Friday's helicopter incident.
