Bell 206B N27785

Summary

On 12 May 1986 at about 23:45 local time, a Bell 206B registered N27785 was involved in an accident near Pine Spring, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

12 May 1986 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Pine Spring, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.7394, -105.0799

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N27785

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pecos → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW86FA085

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A FLT TO A SITE NR GUADALUPE PASS, AN AREA KNOWN FOR ERRATIC & GUSTY WNDS. AS THE PLT WAS ON AN APCH TO A HI MEADOW (ELEV APRX 5460'), THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DSCNT & CRASHED WELL SHORT OF THE INTENDED LNDG AREA. A WITNESS RPRTD THE MAIN ROTOR RPM SLOWED & THE ROTOR BLADES CONED PRIOR TO IMPACT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN A LVL ATTITUDE & AT A HIGH RATE OF DSCNT. AN INV REVEALED THAT A COUPLING ON THE ENG-TO-MAIN TRANSMISSION DRIVE SHAFT HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE MALE DRIVESHAFT COUPLING WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FLANGE ON THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVESHAFT'S ENG END. EIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACDNT, AN AIR COND SYS WAS INSTALLED ON THE HELICOPTER. THIS WOULD HAVE REQD THAT A DRIVE SHAFT COUPLING BE DISCONNECTED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE SELF LOCKING NUTS WERE REUSED WHEN THE COUPLING WAS RECONNECTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.