Bell 206BII accident near Grand Prairie, Texas, September 27, 1989
On September 27, 1989 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Bell 206BII (helicopter), registered N995KP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Prairie, Texas (Grand Prairie airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO EXECUTE AN ABRUPT MANEUVER WHILE HOVERING DOWNWIND, WHICH LED TO A REDUCTION IN ROTOR RPM AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1989 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Prairie, Texas · Grand Prairie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206BII · all 206BIIs on the register
- Registration
- N995KP · registry record · serial 2201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HOVER TAXIED THE HELICOPTER OFF THE RUNWAY WITH A 10 TO 18 KNOT GUSTY TAILWIND OVER A FRESHLY MOWED GRASSY AREA. HE RAPIDLY APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH AND UNDERSPED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE GOVERNOR CONTROL ARM MOVEMENT BECAME RESTRICTED DUE TO POOR SERVICING AND QUALITY CONTROL BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. MAIN ROTOR RPM COULD NOT BE REGAINED AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED. THE PILOT OVER FLARED THE HELICOPTER CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND AND MAIN ROTOR BLADE FLEXED DOWNWARD AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM. A HARD LANDING RESULTED.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,737 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 7, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTW Fort Worth TX at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from RBD, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.