# NTSB FTW79FA070: Aerospatile SA365C, N90049, Sabine Pass, TX, April 26, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 26, 1979
- Place: Sabine Pass, TX · SABINE PASS, TX
- Location: 29.7336° N, 93.8943° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sabine Pass, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7336&lon=-93.8943&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135534
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2620  79/4/26  NR.SABINE PASS,TX     AEROSPATILE SA365C  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 4304
        TIME - 1600                    N90049              PX-  0  1  7  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 58 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - JEFFERSON COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SABINE PASS,TX              GULF OF MEXICO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        REMARKS- FENESTRON GEARBOX SUPPORT RING FAILED.EMERG PROC FOR LOSS OF YAW CNTL ON SKID EQPD ACFT NOT PRVDD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90049](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90049-1983-11-22), registration cancelled 1983-11-22, S/N 5015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATILE SA365C
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA-365C "DAUPHIN"](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa-365c-dauphin) (registry code 8680667) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Jefferson County

## 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 19790426013669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790426013669A), Apr 26, 1979: Aerosp SA365C, Sabine Pass, TX, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed during emergency landing. Gear box support ring failed, causing vibration and loss of control.

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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