Bell 206-A TGJET

Summary

On 24 March 1998 at about 19:30 local time, a Bell 206-A registered TGJET, operated by Pinarsa, was involved in an accident near Rio Hondo, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 March 1998 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rio Hondo, Texas, United States

Coordinates

26.2292, -97.5809

Aircraft

Bell 206-A

Registration

TGJET

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Pinarsa

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Braunfels → Brownsville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98FA156

2 people died.

The engine compartment fire due to undetermined reasons, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the tailboom.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness observed the Bell 206-A helicopter 'flying fast' in a southerly direction at about 500 to 600 feet agl. Flames were coming from the helicopter's right rear side in the vicinity of the engine compartment, and very little smoke was observed. Prior to descending from view, the helicopter appeared to be in controlled flight. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the ground and was destroyed by the in-flight and postimpact fire. Examination of the engine compartment revealed that the step portion of the forward firewall where the throttle and fuel line pass through had localized bluing; however the fuel line connector which was still attached to the firewall fitting, did not exhibit any fire damage. The #3 tail rotor drive shaft segment was found 66 feet prior to the initial impact scar. It was fractured with fire damaged fiberglass cloth wrapped around the forward end of the fractured shaft. According to a NTSB metallurgist, 'the fracture was consistent with an overstress after exposure to elevated temperatures.' The helicopter was returning to Guatemala after completion of schedule maintenance performed in the United States.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.