Individually Owned: 151,845
Corporate Owned: 143,699
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Woodsboro, Texas 78393
Thursday, October 2, 2014 13:00 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
On October 2, 2014, about 1300 central daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N49746, made a hard forced landing near Woodsboro, Texas, following a loss of engine power. The airline transport rated pilot and two passengers received serious injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage during a subsequent roll over. The helicopter was registered to and operated by an individual doing business as Heartland Helicopters under the provisions of Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial observation . Day visual flight rules conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Alfred C 'Bubba' Thomas Airport (T69), near Sinton, Texas, about 1200.
A copy of a fuel receipt indicated the helicopter was serviced on October 2, 2014, with 60.1 gallons of Jet A fuel at T69.
According to an initial interview with the accident pilot, he indicated that he was flying the helicopter between 75 and 100 feet above ground level. The purpose of the flight was a laser examination of and over a pipeline. He recalled getting a low rotor RPM horn. He said that there were wires to his right side and building structures on his left. The helicopter yawed and he applied a pressure to a pedal. The helicopter yawed about a half circle prior to him setting it down in the closest clearing. The helicopter subsequently rolled on its right side. The pilot indicated that he did not have an intended destination and was flying where the observer advised him to fly.
At 1353, the recorded weather at the Aransas County Airport, near Rockport, Texas, was: Wind 170 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 21 knots with winds varying from 130 degrees to 190 degrees; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition few clouds at 1,600 feet, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, broken clouds at 2,900 feet; temperature 32 degrees C; dew point 26 degrees C; altimeter 29.86 inches of mercury.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Not Yet Reported
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/2/2014 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1300 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Woodsboro |
| Event State | TEXAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 78393 |
| Event Date Year | 2014 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 281412N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0971909W |
| Event Location Airport | -- |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | -- |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | -- |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1353 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 122 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KRKP |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 19 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 17 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 2900 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 1600 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Few |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 32 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 26 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 170 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 21 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.86 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | KRKP 021853Z AUTO 17010G21KT 130V190 10SM FEW016 S |
| Event Highest Injury | Serious |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 3 |
| Injury Total All | 3 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | -- |
| NTSB Notification Source | Texas DPS |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 6 2014 1:35PM |
| User who most recently changed record | male |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N49746 |
| NTSB Number | CEN15LA002 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | -- |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BELL |
| Aircraft Model | 206B |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 1928 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 3201 |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | -- |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 4 |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | -- |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | -- |
| Date of Last Inspection | -- |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | -- |
| ELT Installed | Unknown |
| ELT Activated | Unknown |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | STATZEL STEVE DBA |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | FORT WORTH |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 76131 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | -- |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | -- |
| Operator State | -- |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | -- |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| 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) | Aerial Observation |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | -- |
| Departure Airport Code | -- |
| Departure City | -- |
| Departure State | -- |
| Departure Country | -- |
| Departure Time | -- |
| Departure Time Zone | -- |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | -- |
| Destination City | -- |
| Destination State | -- |
| Destination Country | -- |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 2 2014 5:45PM |
| User who most recently changed record | male |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | -- |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |