Aerospatiale AS-350D accident near Freeport, Texas, January 24, 1986
On January 24, 1986 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350D (helicopter), registered N3599X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeport, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- January 24, 1986 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Freeport, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350D · all AS-350Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3599X · no longer on the register · serial 1191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A MAINTENANCE TEST FLT THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE. AN AUTOROTATION WAS ENTERED AND A HARD LANDING OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER. THE FLT ORIGINATED AT OYSTER CREEK HELIPORT AND RETURNED TWICE FOR MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENTS AND WAS TURNING FOR HOME A THIRD TIME WHEN THE ENG FAILED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT A GAS PRODUCER TURBINE WHEEL BLADE HAD SEPARATED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,499 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,751 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,130 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 6, 1986; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming LTS101-600A2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Freeport TX at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.