Brantly Helicopter B-2B accident near Decatur, Texas, February 27, 1988
On February 27, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Brantly Helicopter B-2B, registered N2233U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Texas (Decatur Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 27, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Texas · Decatur Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantly Helicopter B-2B
- Registration
- N2233U · no longer on the register · serial 480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT FLEW THE HELICOPTER FROM HIS RANCH TO DECATUR FOR REFUELING. AFTER LANDING, HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS TOO FAR FROM THE FUEL PUMP. UPON LIFTOFF TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE PUMP THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO A GUST OF WIND THAT PITCHED THE HELICOPTER SIDEWAYS.
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
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from FTW, 29 miles away
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.
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.