# NTSB FTW89FA133: Aerospatiale AS-350-D, N3595B, Galveston, TX, July 11, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1989, 14:52 local (19:52 UTC) - Place: Galveston, TX - Coordinates: 29.250577, -94.920074 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2506&lon=-94.9201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 22778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22778/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA133 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRCRAFT (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT). ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRCRAFT (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) AN AEROSPATIALE AS-350-D, N3595B, WAS IN CRUISE FLT & WAS TRANSITING THRU THE EDGE OF A CONTROL ZONE (NO TWR OPERG) AT 1200 FT MSL FROM SW TO NE, AFTER THE PLT HAD COMMUNICATED HIS POSITION/DIRECTION OF FLT ON UNICOM FREQ. ALSO, THE PLT OF BELL 206L-1, N1082H, HAD COMMUNICATED HIS DEPARTURE DIRECTION FROM THE COASTAL ARPT, AS HE WAS CLIMBING TO HIS CRUISE ALTITUDE ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO HELICOPTERS CONVERGED & A MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED APRX 1.5 MI FROM THE COASTLINE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO. BOTH HELICOPTERS DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED INTO THE GULF WATERS. THE AEROSPATIALE PILOT'S VISION WAS RESTRICTED DOWNWARD & LEFT BY THE COCKPIT CONSOLE. THE BELL PILOT'S VISION WAS RESTRICTED UPWARD & TO THE RIGHT BY THE DOOR FRAME. THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE FLT PATHS WAS ABOUT 105 DEGS. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) AN AEROSPATIALE AS-350-D, N3595B, WAS IN CRUISE FLT & WAS TRANSITING THRU THE EDGE OF A CONTROL ZONE (NO TWR OPERG) AT 1200 FT MSL FROM SW TO NE, AFTER THE PLT HAD COMMUNICATED HIS POSITION/DIRECTION OF FLT ON UNICOM FREQ. ALSO, THE PLT OF BELL 206L-1, N1082H, HAD COMMUNICATED HIS DEPARTURE DIRECTION FROM THE COASTAL ARPT, AS HE WAS CLIMBING TO HIS CRUISE ALTITUDE ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO HELICOPTERS CONVERGED & A MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED APRX 1.5 MI FROM THE COASTLINE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO. BOTH HELICOPTERS DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED INTO THE GULF WATERS. THE AEROSPATIALE PILOT'S VISION WAS RESTRICTED DOWNWARD & LEFT BY THE COCKPIT CONSOLE. THE BELL PILOT'S VISION WAS RESTRICTED UPWARD & TO THE RIGHT BY THE DOOR FRAME. THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE FLT PATHS WAS ABOUT 105 DEGS. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N3595B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3595B-1993-10-12), registration cancelled 1993-10-12, S/N 1072 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350-D - Registry model: [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (registry code 8680803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1072 - Airframe hours: 6874 - Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101 615 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Last inspection: AAIP, June 9, 1989, 58 hours before - Departed: NONE, MT 606, GM - Destination: SBI, SABINE PASS, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GLS, Scholes Fld ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N1082H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1082H-2012-10-11), registration cancelled 2012-10-11, S/N 45403, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45403 - Airframe hours: 8941 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C28 500 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Offshore Logistics, doing business as Air Logistics - Last inspection: AAIP, June 29, 1989, 40 hours before - Departed: GLS, GALVESTON, TX - Destination: NONE, HI 582, GM - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GLS, Scholes Fld ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N3595B; age 45; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,710 total, 545 in this make and model, 2,657 as pilot in command, 131 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N1082H; age 44; 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: 6,894 total, 4,862 in this make and model, 6,044 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GLS, 2 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19890711021852A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890711021852A), Jul 11, 1989: Snias AS350D, Galveston, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. During cruise flight was struck by N1082H that was NORDO and climbing to cruise. Was advised of departure traffic. - [Accident 19890711021851A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890711021851A), Jul 11, 1989: Bell 206L1, Galveston, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. While climbing to cruise collided with N3595B that was on right in cruise flight. No radio contact after departure 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.