Bell 212 accident near Galveston, Texas, June 25, 1984
On June 25, 1984 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N2180J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galveston, Texas (Penzoil Pad airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 9 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1984 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Galveston, Texas · Penzoil Pad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 9 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N2180J · registry record · serial 31207
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF IN AN 80% POWER CHECK & THE PLT BEGAN A NORTHERLY DEPARTURE. BEFORE ACHIEVING TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, THE ROTOR RPM DROPPED TO APRX 85%. THE TORQUE METER INDICATED A SPLIT WITH THE #1 ENG INDICATING ABOUT 55% & THE #2 ENG INDICATING AS LOW AS 39%. THE LOW ROTOR RPM AUDIO & WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED & THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SINK. THE PLT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALT TO RECOVER RPM. HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER IN A CLEAR AREA IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE & WITH FORWARD SPEED. DURING THE LANDING, THE SKIDS WERE DAMAGED (SPREAD), THE HELICOPTER ROCKED FORWARD, THE RADOME WAS DAMAGED & THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #2 ENG, MAIN FUEL CONTROL, PN3244736-8 HAD AN AIR LEAK AT THE P3-TP-PG REGULATOR AIR DIAPHRAM WJERE A RETAINING SCREW WAS LOOSE. THE SCREW HAD BEEN SAFETY WIRED & SEALED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT WOULD TURN SLIGHTLY WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE WIRE. WHEN TIGHTENED, WITHIN THE LIMITS, THE AIR LEAK STOPPED.
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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF ENGINE POWER(PARTIAL) - MECH FAILURE/MALF during takeoff - initial climb
- FORCED LANDING during descent - emergency
- HARD LANDING during descent - emergency
Pilot
- Ratings: none, none, helicopter, helicopter
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,177 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 9, 1984; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,200 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6T-3B-TPAC (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: Galveston TX
- Destination: High Isl 474 GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scattered
- Temperature: 93°C, dew point 73°C
- Altimeter: 29 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from GLS, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 8 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW84FA287.