# NTSB FTW80FA040: Bell 206B, N14815, Friendswood, TX, February 9, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 9, 1980
- Place: Friendswood, TX · FRIENDSWOOD, TX
- Location: 29.5077° N, 95.2006° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Friendswood, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5077&lon=-95.2006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132240
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA040

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0085   80/2/9    FRIENDSWOOD,TX      BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 3715
        TIME - 0730                    N376EH              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 792 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  1  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                  GALVESTON,TX
        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
         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 - YES                               ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0085   80/2/9  NR.FRIENDSWOOD,TX     BELL 206B           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 3847
        TIME - 0730                    N14815              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 194 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  1                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PEARLAND,TX                 GALVESTON,TX
        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
         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 - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N14815](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14815-1980-07-10), registration cancelled 1980-07-10, S/N 844, built 1972 (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

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N376EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N376EH-1990-03-01), registration cancelled 1990-03-01, S/N 1436 (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: Substantial damage

## 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 19800209002172A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800209002172A), Feb 9, 1980: Bell 206B, Friendswood, TX, Destroyed. Was overtaken by another helicopter while in cruise flight. Collided. Crashed out of control.
- [Accident 19800209002171A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800209002171A), Feb 9, 1980: Bell 206B, Friendswood, TX, Substantial damage. Leaned down to tune radio. Collided with another helicopter in cruise flight. Landed safely.

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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