# NTSB FTW90LA118: Bell TH13T, N115SD, Paradise, LA, June 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1990, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Paradise, LA
- Coordinates: 29.869571, -90.440109 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8696&lon=-90.4401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23140
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23140/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA118

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY EXECUTE THE AUTOROTATION LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LANDING RESULTED IN THE CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE OF THE LANDING GEAR. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT OF A STANDARD CONFIGURATION, IT WAS RIGGED WITH EARLY TECHNOLOGY RIDIG FLOATS. THESE FLOATS DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE FLIGHT ENVELOPE OF THE HELICOPTER ESPECIALLY DURING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES SUCH AS AUTOROTATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N115SD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115SD-1994-09-27), registration cancelled 1994-09-27, S/N 3461 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL TH13T
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3461
- Engines: LYCOMING TVO435-25-A 278 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Custom Air, doing business as Custom Air
- Registered owner: Customer Air Brewton
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,931 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 84 °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 19900619022929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900619022929A), Jun 19, 1990: Bell TH13T, Paradis, LA, Substantial damage. Made hard autorotation landing in open field. Reported engine lost power. Not substantiated.

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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