# NTSB FTW96LA110: Bell 206B, N2184Z, Cushing, OK, February 3, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 3, 1996, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Cushing, OK
- Coordinates: 35.96915, -96.760246 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9691&lon=-96.7602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 17, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19755
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19755/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA110

## Probable cause

The inadvertent deployment of the passenger's parachute as a result of his failure to follow proper procedures and deactivate the automatic opening device on the parachute.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, descent
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,parachute/drag chute - deployed inadvertently (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

After one of a group of five parachutists decided not to jump from the helicopter, he failed to deactivate a safety device designed to open his reserve parachute at a preset altitude.  As the helicopter descended through approximately 1,000 feet AGL, the reserve opened automatically and the parachutist was pulled from the helicopter.  The parachute snagged on the skids of the helicopter and did not inflate fully.  The parachutist was injured during his subsequent hard landing.

## Factual narrative

On February 3, 1996, at 1530 central standard time, a Bell 206B, N2184Z, was descending near Cushing, Oklahoma, when the reserve parachute of a passenger deployed inside the helicopter.  The helicopter was not damaged.  The passenger sustained serious injury and the commercial pilot was not injured.  The helicopter was being operated by Corporate Helicopters, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91 on a local parachuting flight when the accident occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.

According to statements provided by the pilot and the injured passenger, the helicopter departed Cushing Municipal Airport with five parachutists on board and climbed to 3,000 feet AGL.  Four of the parachutists exited the aircraft while the fifth remained on board, choosing not to jump because he felt his hands were "too cold" to deploy his pilot chute.  The remaining parachutist did not deactivate a safety device designed to automatically open his reserve parachute at a preset altitude. As the helicopter descended through approximately 1,000 feet AGL, the reserve opened automatically and the parachutist was pulled from the helicopter.  The reserve canopy was ripped when it snagged on the skids of the helicopter and did not inflate fully.  The parachutist "impacted the ground" and sustained a broken right femur.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2184Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3517
- Airframe hours: 7520
- Engines: Allison 250-C20B 425 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Corporate Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Helicopter Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1995, 75 hours before
- Departed: CUH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,200 total, 1,750 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUL, 46 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 19960203002469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960203002469A), Feb 3, 1996: Bell 206B, Cushing, OK. Aborted jump due cold hands. Failed deactivate chute auto open. Deployed in cabin. Pulled out. Reserve half deployed

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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