Bell 206B N978RH

Summary

On 7 February 2017 at about 01:09 local time, a Bell 206B registered N978RH, operated by Republic Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Galveston, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 February 2017 at 01:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Galveston, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.2397, -94.9906

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N978RH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1989

Engines

1

Operator

Republic Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Galveston → El Paso

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN17FA100

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to recognize the flight had encountered instrument meteorological conditions at night, which resulted in an unrecognized descent and collision with water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-scheduled passenger helicopter flight departed from an oil tanker ship that was anchored in a bay. The pilot reported that the departure had been delayed, but, when the helicopter did depart, the weather was "good." He said he had more than 6 miles visibility, that and he could see the moon above and the water below, and that his en route altitude was between 700 and 800 feet. He added that as the flight approached the shore at 500 feet, he could see the city lights and lights off the water. The next thing he remembered was being in the water. He and the two passengers were subsequently found by the US Coast Guard about 1hour later. The nearest weather observation station, located 8 miles east of the accident site, reported an overcast ceiling of 400 feet and 5 miles visibility in mist about 17 minutes before the accident. TAFs and AIRMETs issued about 1.5 hours and 1 hour before the accident, respectively, forecast instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Postaccident examination of the helicopter wreckage was consistent with a relatively level impact, and no pre-impact mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the flight encountered IMC at night and that the pilot did not properly gauge the distance of the helicopter from the water, which led to its collision with the water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.