Bell UH-1B accident near Bay Minette, Alabama, April 21, 1987
On April 21, 1987 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Bell UH-1B (helicopter), registered N88987, was destroyed in an accident near Bay Minette, Alabama. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 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
- April 21, 1987 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bay Minette, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1B · all UH-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N88987 · no longer on the register · serial 304724
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOGGING OPERATION, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER ATTEMPTING A PICKUP. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE GLIDE. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE WATER AND SANK. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE COMPRESSOR TURBINE HAD SHIFTED FROM ITS NORMALLY INSTALLED POSITION WHICH CAUSED THE POWER FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAD ABOUT 980 HOURS SINCE IT'S LAST OVERHAUL.
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: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,000 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T-53-L-11 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Helicopter,Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:00 pm from MOB, 35 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.