# NTSB FTW83LA040: Bell 206B, N16659, Port O'Connor, TX, November 19, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 19, 1982, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Port O'Connor, TX
- Coordinates: 28.439924, -96.490715 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4399&lon=-96.4907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72293
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72293/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA040

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE TOOK OFF AT 1348 CST, THE WEATHER WAS 400 FT OVERCAST, 2 TO 5 MI VISIBILITY WITH RAIN. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER, HE ARRIVED AT THE PORT O'CONNOR JETTY AND COULD SEE ACROSS MATAGORDA BAY TO PORT O'CONNOR. ABOUT HALFWAY ACROSS THE BAY, SEVERE TURBULENCE AND RAIN (ASSOCIATED WITH A THUNDERSTORM) WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEG TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED TO A BEACH TO LAND. AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL, WHILE ON A LANDING APPROACH, A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED. FULL POWER WAS APPLIED, BUT THE DESCENT CONTINUED AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN THE WATER IN A NEAR LEVEL ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16659](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16659-1984-06-15), registration cancelled 1984-06-15, S/N 2076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2076
- Airframe hours: 4508
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Houston Helicopters Inc.
- Registered owner: Houston Helicopters Inc.
- Departed: MATAGORDA, TX
- Destination: AMARILLO, TX
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 6,972 total, 3,175 in this make and model, 6,492 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken

## 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 19821119059309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821119059309A), Nov 19, 1982: Bell 206B, Port Oconner, TX, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence and heavy rain. Impacted water in a downdraft attempting precautionary beach 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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