Scholes Fld Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Galveston, Texas 77552
Monday, December 7, 1987 13:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT LANDED HARD IN THE GULF OF MEXICO DURING AN AUTOROTATION THAT WAS ENTERED FOLLOWING THE SEPARATION OF THE 90 DEGREE GEARBOX. THE GEARBOX (WITH TAIL ROTOR BLADES) SEPARATED DUE TO AN IMBALANCE. HOWEVER, THE GEARBOX WAS NOT RECOVERED DURING THE INVESTIGATION AND THE CAUSE OF THE IMBALANCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/7/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GALVESTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77552
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SCHOLES FLD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GLS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 190
Airport Elevation 7
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1345 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID GLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 7
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2625
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 7 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38161
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 3:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3910U
NTSB Number FTW88FA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 412
Aircraft Series Identifier 412
Aircraft Serial Number 33018
Certified Max Gross Weight 11600
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 13
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Oct 16 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 64
Airframe Hours 3787
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR LOGISTICS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3921 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City NEW IBERIA
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GLS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1340
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GLS
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 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --