Penzoil Pad Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Galveston, Texas 77550
Monday, June 25, 1984 13:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF IN AN 80% POWER CHECK & THE PLT BEGAN A NORTHERLY DEPARTURE. BEFORE ACHIEVING TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, THE ROTOR RPM DROPPED TO APRX 85%. THE TORQUE METER INDICATED A SPLIT WITH THE #1 ENG INDICATING ABOUT 55% & THE #2 ENG INDICATING AS LOW AS 39%. THE LOW ROTOR RPM AUDIO & WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED & THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SINK. THE PLT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALT TO RECOVER RPM. HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER IN A CLEAR AREA IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE & WITH FORWARD SPEED. DURING THE LANDING, THE SKIDS WERE DAMAGED (SPREAD), THE HELICOPTER ROCKED FORWARD, THE RADOME WAS DAMAGED & THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #2 ENG, MAIN FUEL CONTROL, PN3244736-8 HAD AN AIR LEAK AT THE P3-TP-PG REGULATOR AIR DIAPHRAM WJERE A RETAINING SCREW WAS LOOSE. THE SCREW HAD BEEN SAFETY WIRED & SEALED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT WOULD TURN SLIGHTLY WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE WIRE. WHEN TIGHTENED, WITHIN THE LIMITS, THE AIR LEAK STOPPED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1984
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GALVESTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77550
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PENZOIL PAD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9T8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 6
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID GLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 7
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 9
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2458
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26388
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2180J
NTSB Number FTW84FA287
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 212
Aircraft Series Identifier 212
Aircraft Serial Number 31207
Certified Max Gross Weight 11200
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 14
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 9 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 1177
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PUMPKIN AIR INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 1110 ADDISON, TX
Aircraft Owner City 75001
Aircraft Owner State
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 Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City GALVESTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HIGH ISL 474
Destination State GM
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --