- Date
- January 21, 1983, 04:11 local (10:11 UTC)
- Place
- Goliad, TX
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3899UBell 206L-3
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830121001519A
- Case key
- 20697
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter collided with trees and the ground in an attempt to reverse directions at low alt & at night after encountering weather. The plt had received a weather briefing and knew the weather was bad with low ceilings and fog. Heradioed he could make it by following the highway at low alt. The flt purpose was to transport an 890 lb valve. The plt was in contact with ellington tower and a police helicopter during the initial part of the flt, discussing the weather and his intentions. There was no radio contact after the helicopter left the houston area. The wreckage was found about 135 miles from houston oriented along a heading of about 075 degrees for a distance of about 500 ft from theinitial point of contact with about a 75 ft high tree. There was no evidence of flt control or engine malfunction prior to impact. The cargo valve was found 30 ft from the main wreckage. Cabin structure showed evidence the valve was propelled through the right side of cabin/door/cushion after impact. No tie down cargo straps were found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3899U
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 51016
- Airframe hours
- 200
- Engine
- Allison 250-C30, 650 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ragland Helicopter Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 19, 1983 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- 7XS6 · Houston, TX
- Destination
- ALI · N Alice, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,166 total · 135 in this make and model · 134 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NIR, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.