# NTSB FTW91LA048: Bell 206B II, N59491, High Island, TX, March 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1991, 19:30 local (Mar 8, 1991, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: High Island, TX
- Coordinates: 29.5606, -94.379081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5606&lon=-94.3791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23309
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23309/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA048

## Probable cause

FOR OCCURRENCE #1 - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE OPERATOR IN LAUNCHING A HAZARDOUS MISSION WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE SLING/HARNESS, THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ACCEPTING AND CONTINUING THE MISSION INTO LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE CREWMEMBER'S INADVERTENT RELEASE OF HIS HOLD OF THE NYLON STRAP. FOR OCCURRENCES #2-4 - FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT AS A RESULT OF ENTANGLEMENT OF AN UNSECURED NYLON STRAP.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, other
  - external load sling/harness - inadequate (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, company/operator management (cause)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - miscellaneous - inadvertent, other crewmember (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - foreign object (cause)
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - entangled (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - sheared (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE MISSION WAS TO LOCATE AND MARK A DOWNED HELICOPTER FLOATING INVERTED OFFSHORE. A CREWMAN WAS LOWERED BY A NYLON STRAP TO ATTACH THE MARKER BOUY. AS DARKNESS SET IN, THE CREWMAN SIGNALED TO COME BACK ABOARD. THE OTHER OBSERVER THREW THE NYLON STRAP TO THE CREWMAN ON THE FLOATING HELICOPTER. THE INBOARD END OF THE STRAP WAS ATTACHED TO A SEAT BELT ANCHOR POINT. DURING THE RETRIEVAL THE CREWMAN RELEASED HIS HOLD ON THE STRAP AND FELL INTO THE WATER. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT SEARCH ACTIVITY THE CREWMAN WAS FOUND DROWNED. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED A LOW FUEL STATE TO THE PARTICIPATING U.S.COAST GUARD HELICOPTER AND RETURNED TOWARD GALVESTON. AS HE ARRIVED OVER THE BEACH THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AUTOROTATED TO A HARD LANDING. THE NYLON STRAP THAT HAD BEEN LEFT HANGING OUTSIDE THE HELICOPTER HAD BECOME ENTANGLED AROUND THE TAIL ROTOR SHEARING THE DRIVE SHAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59491 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B II
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1291
- Engines: ALLISON C-250 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Dme Helicopters, Inc., doing business as Dooley Helicopters, Inc.
- Departed: GLS, GALVESTON, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 12,200 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 12,200 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °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 19910307004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910307004929A), Mar 7, 1991: Bell 206B, High Island, TX, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Observer lowered to mark ditched helicopter fell 100 ft and died. Low fuel. Began return. Strap fouled tail rotor.

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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