# NTSB FTW82FRA15: Aerospatiale SA-360C, N213EH, Hitchcock, TX, February 2, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: February 1, 1982, 20:32 local (Feb 2, 1982, 02:32 UTC)
- Place: Hitchcock, TX
- Location: 29.3483° N, 95.0160° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hitchcock, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3483&lon=-95.0160&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71036
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FRA15
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71036/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FRA15

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A RETURN FLIGHT FROM AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONG HEADWINDS AND ELECTED TO LAND AT LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS FOR FUEL. HE LACKED A PROPER MODE OF PAYMENT; THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE FUEL. HE DEPARTED FOR GALVESTON, TEXAS WITH 100 KG OF FUEL REMAINING. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE LANDED NEAR HITCHCOCK, TEXAS WITH A LOW FUEL STATE. THE PILOT LEARNED OF FUEL FACILITIES ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES AWAY AND DEPARTED WITHOUT PASSENGERS WITH ABOUT 25 KG OF FUEL ON BOARD. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWERLINES DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N213EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N213EH-1988-06-03), registration cancelled 1988-06-03, S/N 1025 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA-360C
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA-360C "DAUPHIN"](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa-360c-dauphin) (registry code 8680662) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1025
- Airframe hours: 956
- Engines: TURBOMECA ASTA2OWV111 615 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Energy Heli. Inc
- Registered owner: Energy Heli. Inc
- Departed: HITCHCOCK, TX
- Destination: HITCHCOCK, TX
- Airport: Helipad

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,300 total, 90 in this make and model, 6,200 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 45° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 149 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820201002329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820201002329A), Feb 1, 1982: Aerosp SA360C, Hitchcock, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot continued flight until fuel exhaustion. Hit wires during emergency 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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