- Date
- March 2, 1992, 22:35 local (Mar 3, 1992, 04:35 UTC)
- Place
- Falfurrias, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3201RBell 206B III
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 18379
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control due to his ability to maintain an adequate visual lookout being restricted. Factors were the observer's delay in informing the pilot of the rearward drift and the dark night conditions.
Analysis
The aircraft was conducting a covert drug interdiction mission at a remote landing site. The pilot lifted off to a hover and was going to take off in a blacked out configuration so as to not alert the smugglers of the aircraft's presence. As the pilot prepared to initiate the forward flight portion of the takeoff, the aircraft drifted to the rear and collided with an unoccupied mobile home. The left stabilizer and the left side of the aircraft came into contact with the trailer and the aircraft rolled over onto the roof. The weather conditions were overcast with gusty winds and dark night with no ambient light. The observer stated that he perceived the aircraft drifting backwards but did not warn the pilot early enough for corrective action. The operator did not have formal training procedures developed for the blacked out operation or for the orientation of observers in surveillance or aircraft operations.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3201R
- Reported as
- Bell 206B III
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3925
- Airframe hours
- 2,150
- Engine
- Allison 250C-20J, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Operator
- Texas Dept. Of Public Safety
- Registered owner
- Texas Dept. Of Public Safety
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 22, 1992 · 50 hours before
- Destination
- NONE · Corpus Christi, TX
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,236 total · 2,998 in this make and model · 3,824 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 160° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg