# NTSB FTW88LA153: Bell 206B, N16962, Pearland, TX, August 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1988, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Pearland, TX
- Location: 29.5636° N, 95.2860° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pearland, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5636&lon=-95.2860&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22676
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22676/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA153

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - turboshaft engine - overtemperature (cause)
  - turboshaft engine - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS AT 300 FEET AGL, MAKING AN APPROACH AFTER A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT, WHEN THE ENGINE OVERTEMPED AND ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. DURING THE AUTOROTATION LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD. THE ACFT ENG BEGAN TO DECELERATE PRIOR TO AUTOROTATION WHEN THE ENG TEMP ROSE TO 1000 DEGREES. A FLARE WAS INITIATED TO SLOW THE FORWARD SPEED AND COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED TO CUSHION THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16962](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16962-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N 2362, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 236Z
- Airframe hours: 5871
- Engines: ALLISON A250-C20B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Houston Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Houston Helicopter Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: Houston Helicopter

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,780 total, 1,371 in this make and model, 4,641 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19880818035359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880818035359A), Aug 18, 1988: Bell 206B, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Engine overtemped and failed on a test flight. Made hard autorotation landing.

## Other investigations on N16962 (2)

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.

- [NTSB ANC03LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA015), Nov 15, 2002: Bell 206B (N16962), Kingman, AZ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from obstacles during cruise flight, which resulted in the helicopter striking a transmission line, and subsequently the ground.
- [NTSB FTW91LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA121), Jul 14, 1991: Bell 206B (N16962), Freeport, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ROTOR RPM DURING THE AUTOROTATION. FACTORS WERE THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION.

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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