# NTSB FTW78FA053: Bell 205A-1, N94AL, Morgan City, LA, June 28, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 28, 1978
- 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: 11 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141439
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA053

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1791  78/6/28  NR.MORGAN CITY,LA     BELL 205A-1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1033                    N94AL               PX-  0  0 10  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 31, 5244 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            2621 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EUGENE BK 43,GULF MX       MORGAN CITY,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH WATER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- MAIN DRIVE SHAFT BOOT P/N 205-404-176-009 FAILED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N94AL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 205A-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780628019039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780628019039A), Jun 28, 1978: Bell 205A1, Morgan City, LA, Substantial damage. Main drive shaft boot p/n 205-404-176-009 failed

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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