# NTSB FTW81IA112: Aerospatial AS350, N138BH, Port Arthur, TX, June 27, 1981

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 27, 1981
- Place: Port Arthur, TX · PORT ARTHUR, TX
- Location: 29.8988° N, 93.9288° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Port Arthur, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8988&lon=-93.9288&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 4, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80128
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81IA112
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81IA112

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0026  81/6/27    PORT ARTHUR,TX      AEROSPATIAL AS350   CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1711                    N138BH              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     35, 6500 TOTAL HOURS, 310
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GULF OF MEXICO              BEAUMONT,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: TAIL ROTOR PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR PITCH HORN,P/N350-12-1368,FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N138BH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N138BH-2015-05-08), registration cancelled 2015-05-08, S/N 1095, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIAL AS350
- Registry model: [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (registry code 8680803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming LTS-101 600A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-600a-series) (registry code 41562, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor 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 19810627038819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810627038819A), Jun 27, 1981: Snias AS350C, Port Arthur, TX, Minor damage. Vibration and yaw. Made run on landing in swamp. Tail rotor pitch change horn failure. Tail rotor damaged boom.

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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