Bell 206B accident near Pearland, Texas, March 19, 1990
On March 19, 1990 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N5016F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pearland, Texas (Skyway Manor airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
DYNAMIC ROLLOVER RESULTANT FROM IMPROPER TAKEOFF TECHNIQUES USED BY THE RATED PILOT, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE COMPANY CHECK PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1990 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Pearland, Texas · Skyway Manor
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5016F · no longer on the register · serial 2620
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A COMPANY EVALUATION FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT DIRECTED THE RATED STUDENT PILOT TO TAKE OFF FROM A SLOPING AREA TO A HOVER. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS TUNING THE RADIOS AND DID NOT MONITOR THE ACTIONS OF THE RATED STUDENT PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DRIFT RIGHT AND AFT, AND THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE TERRAIN. THIS RESULTED IN A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TO THE RIGHT AND SUBSEQUENT MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,671 hours in all; 5,056 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 16,212 as pilot in command; 7,150 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Houston Helicopter, INC
The flight
- Departed from: TX10 at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:50 pm from HOU, 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.