# NTSB FTW83LA184: Bell 206B, N3898P, Hempstead, TX, April 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1983, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Hempstead, TX
- Location: 30.1015° N, 96.0765° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hempstead, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1015&lon=-96.0765&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20860
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20860/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA184

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - turboshaft engine,gas generator - foreign object (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - not performed, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - turboshaft engine,gas generator - fluctuating (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACORDING TO THE PILOT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 800 FEET AGL WHEN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SEVERE YAWS IN RAPID RAPID SUCCESSION. HE NOTICED HE TORQUE FLUCTUATING BETWEEN 30 AND 100 POUNDS, WENT INTO AUTOROTATION AND SELECTED A LANDING SPOT HEADING INTO THE WIND. AS THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING HIS FLARE WHEN A PASSENGER SAW POWERLINES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM. THE PILOT MADE EVASIVE CORRECTIONS BUT HIT THE WIRES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND LEFT SIDE FIRST. A TEARDOWN OF THEENGINE REVEALED AN ACCUMULATION OF FOREIGN MATTERIAL IN THE COMPRESSOR AND DIFFUSER SECTIONS OF THE ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3898P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3898P-1995-06-23), registration cancelled 1995-06-23, S/N 3212 (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: 3212
- Airframe hours: 1087
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C-20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Allen Kent Northwest, doing business as Jet
- Registered owner: Robert Hargraves Or Jim Harris
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 25, 1983, 1 hours before
- Departed: DWH
- Destination: AUSTIN, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,872 total, 1,761 in this make and model, 5,282 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOB, 28 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830408012019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830408012019A), Apr 8, 1983: Bell 206B, Hempstead, TX, Substantial damage. During emergency autorotation landing, helicopter hit wires and crashed. Foreign material found in compressor.

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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