Aerospatiale AS-350B1 accident near Galveston, TX
On July 13, 1994, an Aerospatiale AS-350B1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Galveston, TX. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 13, 1994
- Place
- Galveston, TX
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350B1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.300°N, 94.789°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01731
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 13, 1994, approximately 0838 central daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS350B1 helicopter, N350WM, was destroyed during a loss of control near Galveston, Texas. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the four passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 135 air taxi flight. An interview with the pilot revealed the following information. He had flown the aircraft the day prior to the accident. The helicopter was refueled at Galveston Aero Flight Center, Scholes Field (GLS), Galveston, Texas, and returned to Houston Gulf Airport (SPX), Houston, Texas. The aircraft post flight did not reveal any maintenance problems. The morning of the accident, the helicopter was preflighted and departed at 0750 to pick up four passengers at Galveston Aero Flight Center. One passenger had never flown with Sea Link; therefore, a full passenger briefing was given to all passengers. All of the passengers fastened their seat belts. The aircraft departed approximately 0830 for an oil tanker 50 nautical miles southeast of Galveston. The pilot reported that the aircraft was climbing through "2,000 feet when a bump similar to turbulence was felt. Another bump was felt, followed by a more pronounced bump, and then aircraft control was lost." The pilot further reported that prior to water impact, the aircraft recovered to an almost level attitude, but in a right skidding turn with the nose slightly down. The pilot estimated that it took 30 to 40 seconds from the start of the event to water impact. The airspeed did not get
Probable cause
INADEQUATE TORQUING OF THE LEFT LATERAL SERVO BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH ALLOWED IT TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CONTROLS, LEADING TO AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL.
More accidents in TX
- Kubicek BB85, Jul 30, 2016
- Robertson C-414, Jul 29, 1982
- Textron Aviation B-300, Jun 30, 2019
- Beech B100, Nov 26, 1983
- Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A, Oct 13, 1984
Browse: Texas · Aerospatiale aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
