# NTSB FTW87FA059: Sikorsky S-76A, N767AL, Angleton, TX, February 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 4, 1987, 20:00 local (Feb 5, 1987, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Angleton, TX
- Coordinates: 29.160423, -95.419685 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1604&lon=-95.4197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22231
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22231/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA059

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - initiated
  - approach charts - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - information - dispatched, company/operator management
  - planned approach - attempted, pilot in command
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - cracked
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - overload
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TKOF, THE PLT CONTACTED HIS COMPANY (OPNS) & SAID HE HAD INADVERTENTLY ENCTRD IFR CONDS. HE ASKED OPNS TO RELAY INFO TO HIM FM THE APCH PLATE FOR THE ILS RWY 17 APCH TO BRAZORIA COUNTY ARPT. AFTER RCVG THE INFO, HE CONTACTED HOUSTON APCH CTL & ASKED FOR THE ILS. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED & HE WAS CLRD FOR THE ILS; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH. THREE ATMTS WERE MADE WITH THE LAST BEING A NO-GYRO APCH. DRG THIS TIME, SIMULTANEOUS RADIO CONTACT WAS MAINTD WITH APCH CTL & OPNS. HIS GND SPEED VARIED FM 106 TO 28 KTS. JUST BFR THE ACDNT, HE SAID, '. . . I'VEGOT AN ALTITUDE PROBLEM,' THEN AFTER A SHORT DELAY, HE STATED '. . . I AM GOING TO CRASH.'  THE WRECKAGE WAS FND APRX 1 MI NW OF THE OUTER MARKER, SCATTERED OVR A 2445' AREA. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD HIT THE TAIL BOOM & RADOME & SEPD IN FLT. ONE BLADE HAD A PREEXISTING CRACK, BUT BLUE PAINT MATCHING THE TAIL BOOM WAS FND ON THE BLADE. THE1950 CDT WX AT GALVESTON (32 MI ENE), WAS IN PART: 400' OVC, 3 MI VIS WITH FOG & HAZE, WIND FM 080 DEG AT 18KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N767AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N767AL-1991-02-14), registration cancelled 1991-02-14, S/N 760030 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-76A
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-76A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76a) (registry code 8143006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 760030
- Airframe hours: 5589
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C30S 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Air Logistics,Inc.
- Registered owner: First Security Bank Of Utah
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 1987, 6 hours before
- Departed: TA86, FREEPORT, TX
- Destination: LBX, ANGLETON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LBX, Brazoria County, runway 17, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,468 total, 1,245 in this make and model, 6,468 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GLS, 32 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 19870204001699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870204001699A), Feb 4, 1987: Skrsky S76A, Angleton, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. An inflight failure of the main rotor after two attempts to make an ILS approach. Impacted the ground on third try.

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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