Bell 206B accident near Fairfield, Texas, May 31, 1982
On May 31, 1982 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N1482W, was destroyed in an accident near Fairfield, Texas. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1982 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1482W · registry record · serial 412
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING NORTHBOUND WHILE TRAVELING PARALLEL AND JUST EAST OF A NORTH-SOUTH HIGHWAY. REPORTEDLY, IT ENTER AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING APPROACH, CROSSED OVER THE HIGHWAY AND IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD ON A WESTERLY HEADING AFTER CLEARING POWER LINES, THEN BURNED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS DESCENDING IN ABOUT A 45 DEG WHEN IT WENT OUT OF SIGHT BEHIND TREES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT IT IMPACTED IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE WHILE MOVING TO THE LEFT. THE WIND WAS FROM 340 DEG AT 16 KTS. AFTER IMPACT THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE. WRECKAGE WAS FOUND OVER A DISTANCE OF 108 FT. DURING AN ENGINE TEARDOWN, DAMAGE WAS NOTED THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH A LACK OF POWER AND LOW RPM. NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE TEARDOWN. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT HAD NOTED VIBRATIONS ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT DURING LEFT TURNS AND HAD TO "BEEP UP" THE ENGINE AFTER LIFTING OFF TO A HOVER, THEN HAD TO "BEEP DOWN" AFTER LANDING TO KEEP FROM OVERSPEEDING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,992 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Huntsville TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Gainesville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 169°F (76°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from DAL, 110 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.