# NTSB FTW80FA049: Bell 212, Hillsboro, TX, February 29, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 29, 1980
- Place: Hillsboro, TX · HILLSBORO, TX
- Location: 32.0078° N, 97.1157° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hillsboro, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0078&lon=-97.1157&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 23, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA049
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA049

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I-0001  80/2/29    HILLSBORO,TX        BELL 212            CR-  3  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             CERTIFICATE OTHER, AGE
        TIME - 1515                    TPH-04              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     55, 8517 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WACO,TX                     ADDISON,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED IN HELL HOLE AREA
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: TPH-04 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

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.
