# Accident 20060219001399A: Bell 222B, Galveston, TX, February 19, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 19, 2006, 02:00 local time
- Place: Galveston, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: C9PA
- Location: 28.2900° N, 93.7042° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2900&lon=-93.7042&mi=10
- Aircraft: N306CH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N306CH-2007-04-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 222B (registry code 1182124, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming LTS-101 series (registry code 41560, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222B
- Reported engine: LYC LTS101*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 180 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW06LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060219001399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) HELICOPTER N306CH A BELL 222-B DEPARTED HOUSTON HOBBY AIRPORT AT 0100 LOCAL, VFR, ENROUTE TO AN OIL TANKER MOORED IN THE SABINE LIGHTERING AREA APPROXIMATELY 85 MILES SE OF GALVESTON, TEXAS. PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FLIGHT SERVICE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. CEILING 800' VARIABLE TO 1200' WITH 10 MILES VISIBILITY. PILOT CONTACTED COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND GAVE POSITION REPORT AND ETA TO TANKER AT 0119. NEXT RADIO CONTACT WAS AT 0133 AND PILOT GAVE POSITION REPORT OF 2902/9424 AND ETA TO THE TANKER OF 25 MINS. PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS AT 700' ALTITUDE WITH THE AUTOPILOT ENGAGED, AND APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES OUT FROM THE TANKER THAT HE COULD SEE A HAZE AND A SLIGHT DRIZZLE. PILOT CONTACTED VESSEL, AND GAVE ETA OF 5 MINS. PILOT DECREASED SPEED BELOW 100 DTS TO LOWER LANDING GEAR, DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT AND SET UP A DESCENT OF 200' TO 300'. WHILE SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE AND ENGAGING THE SAS SYSTEM, PILOT FELT A RESISTANCE TO THE AIRCRAFT, PILOT LOOKED UP AS AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE WATER NOSE FIRST. AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND BEGAN TO SINK. BOTH PILOTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT SUNK APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 SECONDS LATER. TANKER CONTACTED U.S. COAST GUARD AND COMMENCED A SEARCH OF THEIR OWN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DFW06LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA072), Feb 19, 2006: Bell 222B (N306CH), Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico), destroyed. Probable cause: The flight crew's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, and the crew's diverted attention to secondary tasks while preparing for the night landing. A contributing factor was the dark night…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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