Aerospatiale SA-360C accident near Hitchcock, Texas, February 2, 1982
On February 2, 1982 at about 2:32 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA-360C (helicopter), registered N213EH, was destroyed in an accident near Hitchcock, Texas (Helipad airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- February 2, 1982 · about 2:32 am local time
- Place
- Hitchcock, Texas · Helipad
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-360C
- Registration
- N213EH · no longer on the register · serial 1025
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A RETURN FLIGHT FROM AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONG HEADWINDS AND ELECTED TO LAND AT LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS FOR FUEL. HE LACKED A PROPER MODE OF PAYMENT; THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE FUEL. HE DEPARTED FOR GALVESTON, TEXAS WITH 100 KG OF FUEL REMAINING. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE LANDED NEAR HITCHCOCK, TEXAS WITH A LOW FUEL STATE. THE PILOT LEARNED OF FUEL FACILITIES ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES AWAY AND DEPARTED WITHOUT PASSENGERS WITH ABOUT 25 KG OF FUEL ON BOARD. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWERLINES DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,300 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 6,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 956 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ASTA2OWV111 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Energy Heli. INC
The flight
- Departed from: Hitchcock TX at 8:31 pm
- Destination: Hitchcock TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 045° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N213EH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.