Aerospatiale AS-355-F1 accident near Grand Prairie, Texas, January 20, 1988
On January 20, 1988 at about 9:38 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-355-F1 (helicopter), registered N5800F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Prairie, Texas (Grand Prairie airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 20, 1988 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Prairie, Texas · Grand Prairie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-355-F1 · all AS-355-F1s on the register
- Registration
- N5800F · no longer on the register · serial 5191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACDT OCCURRED ON THE 2ND FLT OF TRANSITION TRNG FOR AN EXPERIENCED HELICOPTER PLT. THE TRNG ON THIS FLT INCLUDED SIM TAIL ROTOR FAILURE RUN-ON LANDINGS. THE CFI DEMONSTRATED 2 LANDINGS AND THE TRAINEE TOOK THE CONTROLS FOR THE 3RD. THE LANDINGS WERE BEING MADE IN THE GRASS BESIDE A PAVED RWY. DURING THE LANDING SLIDE THE FRONT OF THE SKIDS DUG IN AND THE HELICOPTER PITCHED FORWARD. THE TRAINEE PULLED UP ON THE COLLECTIVE AND AFT ON THE CYCLIC WHEREUPON THE HELICOPTER ROCKED BACKWARDS AND THE TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE; HOWEVER, THE CFI DETECTED VIBRATION AND UNUSUAL NOISE AND ANNOUNCED 'TAIL ROTOR FAILURE'. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS COMPLETED WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OR INJURIES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command; 650 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,291 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F67 at 8:45 pm
- Destination: F67
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from DFW, 10 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.