Bell 206-A accident near Rio Hondo, TX
On March 24, 1998, a Bell 206-A (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Rio Hondo, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 24, 1998
- Place
- Rio Hondo, TX
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-A · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 26.229°N, 97.581°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09660
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 24, 1998, approximately 1330 central standard time, a Bell 206-A helicopter, Guatemalan registry TG-JET, registered to and operated by PINARSA of Guatemala City, Guatemala, was destroyed during a forced landing following an in-flight fire near Rio Hondo, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight. The Guatemalan private pilot and the pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from Hurst, Texas, at 0800, and departed the New Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, Texas, a planned fuel stop, at approximately 1100. The pilot contacted the Brownsville Tower and reported he was 25 miles north northwest at 1,000 feet inbound for landing. Brownsville Tower instructed the pilot to report when he was 10 miles from Brownsville. There were no further communications with the pilot. During a personal interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), an eye witness reported that he observed the helicopter "flying fast" in a southerly direction at about 500 to 600 feet agl. Flames were observed coming from the helicopter's right rear side in the vicinity of the engine compartment, and very little smoke was observed. The witness added that prior to descending from view, the helicopter appeared to be in controlled flight. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to personnel records provided by the Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC) of Guatemala, the pilot-in-command (PIC) held a Guatemalan private pilot certificate for helicopters, which was
Probable cause
The engine compartment fire due to undetermined reasons, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the tailboom.
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Browse: Texas · Bell 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.
