# NTSB FTW80FA030: Bell 206B, N30TA, Montegut, LA, January 3, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 3, 1980
- Place: Montegut, LA · MONTEGUT, LA
- Location: 29.4490° N, 90.5600° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montegut, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4490&lon=-90.5600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132224
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA030

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0068   80/1/3  NR.MONTEGUT,LA        BELL 206B           CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 7413
        TIME - 0735                    N39AL               PX-  0  3  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 2283 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MORGAN CITY,LA              BENICE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  180
          HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   0                 VERTICAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -  0
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - YES                               ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - OPERATING
        REMARKS- MAIN ROTOR COLLIDED W MAIN ROTOR OF OTHER HEL.HEL CAME TO REST IN BAYOU.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0068   80/1/3  NR.MONTEGUT,LA        BELL 206B           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 3784
        TIME - 0735                    N30TA               PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 978 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  4  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MONTEGUT,LA                  GRAND ISLE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  0
          HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   0                 VERTICAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -  0
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - OPERATING
        REMARKS- MAIN ROTOR COLLIDED W MAIN ROTOR OF OTHER HEL.WRECKAGE CAME TO REST IN BAYOU.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N30TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30TA-2012-09-05), registration cancelled 2012-09-05, S/N 881, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N39AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39AL-1990-01-24), registration cancelled 1990-01-24, S/N 841 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Accident 19800103000101A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800103000101A), Jan 3, 1980: Bell 206B, Montegut, LA, Destroyed. Overtook and collided with another helicopter. Impact destroyed main rotors. Crashed into swamp.
- [Accident 19800103000102A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800103000102A), Jan 3, 1980: Bell 206B, Montegut, LA, Destroyed. Helicopter was overtaken and struck by other helicopter. Lost rotors. Spun into a swamp.

## Other investigations on N30TA (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 NYC73IN142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73IN142), May 14, 1973: Bell 206B (N30TA), White Plains, NY, incident, minor 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.