Bell 412 accident near Galveston, Texas, December 7, 1987
On December 7, 1987 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Bell 412 (helicopter), registered N3910U, was destroyed in an accident near Galveston, Texas (Scholes Fld airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- December 7, 1987 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Galveston, Texas · Scholes Fld
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 412 · all 412s on the register
- Registration
- N3910U · registry record · serial 33018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED HARD IN THE GULF OF MEXICO DURING AN AUTOROTATION THAT WAS ENTERED FOLLOWING THE SEPARATION OF THE 90 DEGREE GEARBOX. THE GEARBOX (WITH TAIL ROTOR BLADES) SEPARATED DUE TO AN IMBALANCE. HOWEVER, THE GEARBOX WAS NOT RECOVERED DURING THE INVESTIGATION AND THE CAUSE OF THE IMBALANCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,806 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,787 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 16, 1987; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,600 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT-6T-3B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLS at 7:40 pm
- Destination: GLS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from GLS, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.