# NTSB FTW98TA328: Bell 206L-3, N42489, Reklaw, TX, July 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: July 24, 1998, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Reklaw, TX - Coordinates: 31.859518, -94.98069 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8595&lon=-94.9807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98TA328 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43263/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98TA328 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment in that the external load was not centered during sling operation, which resulted in entanglement of the load with the landing gear, and the 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, hover - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - external load cable/hook - entangled - aircraft control - not maintained - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The helicopter was being used to perform sling load operations, transporting water to a fire in a bambi bucket. After completing a bucket drop on a fire, the pilot returned to the dip site and made an approach to a hover over the water. A witness observed the helicopter come in for the dip and 'the bucket was way back dragging across the water.' As the helicopter was lifting the bucket, it 'tipped to the passenger side and the rotor immediately hit the water.' The helicopter came to rest in the pond on its left side. Examination of the helicopter by the FAA inspector revealed witness marks, which were matched to the water bucket's cable, on the outside of the left skid just aft of the aft cross tube. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1998, about 1715 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N42489, registered to Houston Helicopters, Inc., of Houston, Texas, and operated by the U.S. Forest Service, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while hovering near Reklaw, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 Public Use fire fighting flight. The flight originated from the Hudson Fire Base near Lufkin, Texas. The 8,944 hour helicopter pilot reported in a written statement that the "dip" site for filling the water bucket (bambi) was a "typical Texas farm pond, approximately 120 feet from North to South and 50 to 70 feet wide." The nearest obstacles were 30 to 40 foot trees on the east and west sides of the pond. The pilot further reported that after completing a fourth bucket drop on the fire, he returned to the dip site and made a normal approach to a hover over the water. While at a "stabilized hover, with no apparent drift," he reduced the collective (power) to put the bucket in the water. The helicopter descended to 2 feet above the water, and he "watched the bucket sink into the pond using the chin mounted mirror." When the bucket filled, he increased the collective to approximately 78% torque and lifted the aircraft to take up the slack in the cable. This brought the bucket rim to the surface and "all looked to be normal." He then increased power to 93-94% torque to lift the bucket. "At this point the aircraft started a minor roll, it felt as though the bucket might be slightly off center below the aircraft." He reduced collective to approximately 70% torque to take the load off the aircraft and evaluate the situation. "As the aircraft descended to a 2 [foot] skid height it entered a very high rate left roll and impacted the water." While still at the accident site, the pilot reported to the Forest Service safety officer that he was "a little bit off center, [and] when I lifted [the helicopter] it did a dynamic rollover." A witness reported to the Forest Service safety officer that he was watching the helicopter come in for its third dip. The witness further reported that "the bucket was way back dragging across the water." Once the bucket sank, the pilot started to "pull power," and then the helicopter "tipped to the passenger side and the rotor immediately hit the water." Examination of the helicopter wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed witness marks, which were matched to the water bucket's cable, on the outside of the left skid just aft of the aft cross tube. The fuselage sustained damage, the tail boom's skin was wrinkled, and the main rotor blades were separated from the main rotor hub. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42489](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42489-2007-04-25), registration cancelled 2007-04-25, S/N 51474, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-3 - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51474 - Airframe hours: 2093 - Engines: Allison 250-C30S 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: U.S. Forest Service - Registered owner: Houston Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1998, 72 hours before - Departed: NONE - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,944 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 7,662 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 5 knots, gusting 8 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19980724017669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980724017669A), Jul 24, 1998: Bell 206L3, Lufkin, TX, No damage. Acft lost control and crashed into a pond. (-23) a Bell 206 L-3 helicopter was fire fighting in vicinity of highway 204 reclaw, Texas approximately 20 miles… 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.