# NTSB FTW90FA046: Bell 206L-1, N3913S, S Marsh Is 7, December 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1989, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: S Marsh Is 7
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23005/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA046

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE AND CORRECT A SITUATION INVOLVING LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water
- Roll over, landing
  - landing gear,float assembly - separation

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN LOADED NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT OF 4150 LBS. THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING AN APCH TO AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO WIND. AS THE APCH SPEED DROPPED BELOW EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, THE PLT NOTED A SHUDDER THAT DID NOT SEEM NORMAL, SO HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND. AS HE APPLIED POWER & PEDAL TO GO AROUND, THE ACFT SPUN TO THE RGT & THE NOSE TUCKED. THE PLT TRIED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE RPRTD THAT JUST BEFORE WATER IMPACT HE LEVELED THE HELICOPTER, DEPLOYED THE EMERG FLOATS & APPLIED FULL COLLECTIVE PITCH. ALSO, HE STATED THE RATE OF SPIN DECREASED AS HE APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH. ONE OF THE LEFT FLOATS SEPARATED ON WATER ENTRY & THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. NO FEEDBACK OR RESTRICTION OF THE CONTROLS WAS NOTED BEFORE IMPACT. A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3913S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3913S-1990-05-30), registration cancelled 1990-05-30, S/N 45666 (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)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45666
- Airframe hours: 8764
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 500 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Logistics
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 25, 1989, 2 hours before
- Departed: NONE, GRAND CHENIER, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,796 total, 4,867 in this make and model, 6,796 as pilot in command, 174 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: 7R4, 35 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 19891227053329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891227053329A), Dec 27, 1989: Bell 206L1, Intracostal Cit, LA, Destroyed. Slowed for landing on helipad. Shuddered. Tried go around but entered settling with power. Impacted. Rolled over.

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.