Grand Prairie Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Prairie, Texas 75051
Wednesday, September 27, 1989 11:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HOVER TAXIED THE HELICOPTER OFF THE RUNWAY WITH A 10 TO 18 KNOT GUSTY TAILWIND OVER A FRESHLY MOWED GRASSY AREA. HE RAPIDLY APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH AND UNDERSPED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE GOVERNOR CONTROL ARM MOVEMENT BECAME RESTRICTED DUE TO POOR SERVICING AND QUALITY CONTROL BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. MAIN ROTOR RPM COULD NOT BE REGAINED AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED. THE PILOT OVER FLARED THE HELICOPTER CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND AND MAIN ROTOR BLADE FLEXED DOWNWARD AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM. A HARD LANDING RESULTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO EXECUTE AN ABRUPT MANEUVER WHILE HOVERING DOWNWIND, WHICH LED TO A REDUCTION IN ROTOR RPM AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/27/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRAND PRAIRIE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75051
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND PRAIRIE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID F67
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 590
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1146 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID RBD
Elevation of weather observation facility 660
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1931
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 28 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1222
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41061
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N995KP
NTSB Number FTW89LA174
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206BII
Aircraft Series Identifier 206BII
Aircraft Serial Number 2201
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 7 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5737
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TEXAS HELIJET INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3108 S GREAT SOUTHWEST PKWY.
Aircraft Owner City GRAND PRAIRIE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75051
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TEXAS HELIJET
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3108 S. GREAT SOUTHWEST PKWY.
Operator City GRAND PRAIRIE
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75051
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FTW
Departure City FORT WORTH
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --