# NTSB FTW81FA056: Bell 206L-1, N1077N, Gulf Of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico), March 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1981
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) · GULF OF MEXICO, GM
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79423
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1400  81/3/25    GULF OF MEXICO      BELL 206L-1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 4849
        TIME - 0750                    N1077N              PX-  0  0  5  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GULF OF MEXICO              FREEPORT,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: SUBSTANDARD QUALITY CONTROL
           POWERPLANT - COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           SYSTEMS - OTHER SYSTEMS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY INSTALLED
        FACTOR(S)
           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- SPLINE ADAPTER,PN 6899243,FAILED FM FATIGUE.UN INFLATE POP-OUT FLOATS,SQUIB VLV INDCR PIN REVERSED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1077N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1077N-1997-03-31), registration cancelled 1997-03-31, S/N 45349 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810325012419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810325012419A), Mar 25, 1981: Bell 206L1, Freeport, TX, Destroyed. Engine failed and pilot made autorotation landing. Floats did not deploy and helicopter flipped over in water.

## Other investigations on N1077N (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 LAX94LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA126), Feb 15, 1994: Bell 206L-1 (N1077N), Barstow, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare altitude during a night autorotation while preoccupied with maintaining proper main rotor rpm. A factor in the accident was the pilot's visual perception…

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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