# NTSB FTW89LA106: Bell 206L, N992PT, Abbeville, LA, June 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1989, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Abbeville, LA
- Coordinates: 29.970447, -92.119918 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9704&lon=-92.1199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22874
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22874/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA106

## Probable cause

PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  PERSON(S) IN THE INTENDED EMERGENCY LANDING AREA AND SOFT TERRAIN WHERE THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - object - other person (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - run on landing - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THERE WAS A VARIATION IN ENG PWR AS HE APCHD THE DESTN, AS WELL AS A LOW ROTOR RPM INDCN. HE SAID HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN AUTOROTATION ONTO A TWY, BUT HE NOTICE SOMEONE IN THE INTENDED LANDING AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MANEUVERED TO LAND IN A GRASSY AREA, BUT DURING A RUN-ON LANDING, THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN & ROCKED FORWARD. AS THE HELICOPTER ROCKED FORWARD, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM, SEVERING THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY.  DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK, THE ENG RAN NORMALLY.  NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE REPORTED VARIATION OF ENG POWER & LOW RPM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N992PT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45716
- Airframe hours: 4487
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 435 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Taylor Energy Vthe
- Registered owner: Taylor Energy Company
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 1989, 68 hours before
- Departed: LAF, LAFAYETTE, LA
- Airport: OR3, Abbeville Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890602014279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890602014279A), Jun 2, 1989: Bell 206L1, Abbeville, LA, Substantial damage. During practice auto rotation landing to taxiway had to divert due to people on taxiway. Rotor decay. Hard landing.

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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