# NTSB FTW79FA035: Bell BH212, N49591, Galveston, TX, December 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 29, 1978
- Place: Galveston, TX · GALVESTON, TX
- Location: 29.3014° N, 94.7978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Galveston, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3014&lon=-94.7978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138172
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4381  78/12/29 NR.GALVESTON,TX       BELL BH212          CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 2653
        TIME - 1503                    N49591              PX-  1  3  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 92 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SCHOLES FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         GALVESTON,TX                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  AIRFRAME BUFFET
                                  PROP/ENGINE VIBRATION
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49591](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49591-1981-05-07), registration cancelled 1981-05-07, S/N 30695 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL BH212
- Registry model: [Bell 212](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (registry code 1181420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Scholes Field

## 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 19781229045529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781229045529A), Dec 29, 1978: Bell 212, Galveston, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Helicopter on maintenance test flight developed severe vibrations with one engine idled. Unable to keep rotor RPM.

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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