# NTSB FTW67A0065: Bell 204-B, N8540F, Morgan City, LA, December 18, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 18, 1966
- Place: Morgan City, LA · MORGAN CITY, LA
- Location: 29.7103° N, 91.1915° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morgan City, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7103&lon=-91.1915&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 1967
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 120071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW67A0065
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67A0065

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-1058  66/12/18   MORGAN CITY LA      BELL 204-B          CR-  0  0  2  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1045                    N8540F              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  AGE 42, 3374 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            110 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SIMULATED CONDITIONS
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: MAIN GEAR-SHOCK ABSORBING ASSY,STRUTS,ATTACHMENTS,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNAPPROVED MODIFICATION
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (OWNER PERSONNEL)
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- FRONT AND AFT CROSS-OVER TUBES FAILED. OPERATOR MODIFICATION ALTERED DESIGN STRENGTH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8540F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8540F-1968-04-24), registration cancelled 1968-04-24, S/N 2033 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 204-B
- Registry model: [Bell 204-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-204-b) (registry code 1181404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N8540F (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 FTW68A0070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW68A0070), Jan 10, 1968: Bell 204-B (N8540F), Galveston, TX, substantial damage

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.

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