# NTSB FTW81FA020: Bell 206B, N222LM, Patterson, LA, December 31, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 31, 1980
- Place: Patterson, LA · PATTERSON, LA
- Location: 29.6909° N, 91.3095° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Patterson, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6909&lon=-91.3095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127739
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3691  80/12/31 NR.PATTERSON,LA       BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 2694
        TIME - 0950                    N222LM              PX-  0  0  1  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 169 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - EUGENE ISLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         PATTERSON,LA                 PATTERSON,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - TURBINE ASSEMBLY: BLADE,TURBINE WHEEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: EMERGENCY FLOTATION GEAR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PRESSURE TOO LOW
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH WATER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- FATIGUE FAILURE OF 2ND STAGE TURBINE WHEEL BLADE.MALF INNER VALVE RESTRICTED PRESS TO FLOAT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N222LM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222LM-2006-01-09), registration cancelled 2006-01-09, S/N 1916 (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
- Airport: Eugene Island

## 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 19801231083119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801231083119A), Dec 31, 1980: Bell 206B, Patterson, LA, Substantial damage. Helicopter engine failed 70 feet altitude during liftoff. Autorotation into rough sea. Chopper sank.

## Other investigations on N222LM (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 FTW01LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA036), Dec 1, 2000: Bell 206B (N222LM), Rockport, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the fatigue fracture of the compressor coupling adapter. A contributing factor was the high sea condition existing for the forced landing.

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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