# NTSB SEA88FA050: Bell 206A, N7981J, Roseburg, OR, February 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1988, 09:03 local (17:03 UTC)
- Place: Roseburg, OR
- Coordinates: 43.250255, -123.240295 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2503&lon=-123.2403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40716
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40716/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA050

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, hover
  - turbine assembly,turbine wheel - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE HOVERING AT 200' AGL, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE PLT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. HE MANEUVERED TO AVOID TREES & LANDED AMID TREE STUMPS IN A LOGGING CLEAR CUT AREA. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE 1ST STAGE TURBINE WHEEL HAD FAILED. THE WHEEL EXITED THE ENG & AIRFRAME IN MORE THAN TWO PIECES & WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE MODE OF WHEEL FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7981J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7981J-2013-10-24), registration cancelled 2013-10-24, S/N 693, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206A
- Registry model: [Bell 206A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206a) (registry code 1181508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0693
- Airframe hours: 2795
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Mountain Air Helicopters, Inc
- Registered owner: Mountian Air Helicopters, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 14, 1987, 45 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,697 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880218002799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880218002799A), Feb 18, 1988: Bell 206B, Roseburg, OR, Substantial damage. Lost engine power in 200 foot AGL hover. Crashed into tree stumps. A turbine wheel had burst and disintegrated.

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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