# NTSB FTW84FA244: Bell 206B, N102CD, San Antonio, TX, May 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1984, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: San Antonio, TX
- Coordinates: 29.419458, -98.529487 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4195&lon=-98.5295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21124
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA244
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21124/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA244

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotorcraft flight control,tail rotor control - loss,partial (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

IN A LEFT ORBIT THE HELICOPTER YAWED RIGHT AND CONTINUED THE RIGHT ROTATION TO IMPACT. AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL THE ACFT WAS OPERATING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT 250 FT AGL WITH A DENSITY ALT OF 3751 FT AND AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 20 TO 25 KTS. THE PLT'S ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N102CD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2808
- Airframe hours: 997
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Chaparral Aviation
- Registered owner: Venus Operating Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1983, 93 hours before
- Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,439 total, 301 in this make and model, 6,439 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAT, 15 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 19840527071379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840527071379A), May 27, 1984: Bell 206B, San Antonio, TX, Destroyed. Yaw and weathervaning occurred during out of ground effect hover. Failed to correct the ensuing right turn and spin

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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