# NTSB FTW84FA058: Bell 206L-1, N908S, Houston, TX, November 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 14, 1983, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.709398, -95.480995 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7094&lon=-95.4810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21083
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21083/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA058

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT LOST POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. DURING THE FORCED AUTOROTATION LANDING THE TAIL WAS SEVERED BY THE MAIN ROTOR. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT 70 PERCENT N-1. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED IN THE ENGINE DURING POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION AND RUN-UP. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N908S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45486
- Airframe hours: 1311
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 500 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Humble Products Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 7, 1983, 13 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

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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