# NTSB FTW83LA218: Bell 206B, N5747L, Thorndale, TX, May 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1983, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Thorndale, TX
- Coordinates: 30.570199, -97.410316 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5702&lon=-97.4103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20890
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20890/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA218

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT APPROACHED THE FIELD TO BE SURVEYED AND COLLIDED WITH A WIRE AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT DURING THE ACTUAL SURVEY THE ACFT IS HOVERED AT LOW ALT. WHEN THE PLT SAW THE WIRE AHEAD THE REPORTED AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 20 KTSTHE COLLECTIVE WAS LOWERED ON IMPACT AND DURING SEVERE OSCILLATIONS THE PLT INITIATED A FLARE AND SECURED THE ENGINE. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE WHICH COLLAPSED THE SKIDS AND THE ACFT ROLLED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5747L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5747L-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N 3079 (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: 3079
- Airframe hours: 1424
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pumpkin Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 7, 1983, 21 hours before
- Departed: AUSTIN, TX
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,652 total, 980 in this make and model, 1,601 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19830504017159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830504017159A), May 4, 1983: Bell 206B, Thorndale, TX, Substantial damage. Crash landed after a wire strike during a low level oil exploration survey.

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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