Bell 206B accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, April 27, 1993
On April 27, 1993 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N96DM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE GUSTS, TURBULENCE, AND TAILWIND CONDITIONS AT THE LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1993 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N96DM · no longer on the register · serial 2816
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD COMPLETED A REVENUE FLIGHT WITH 3 PASSENGERS, AND WAS MAKING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE RESULTED. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED TO AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE HAD ATTEMPTED A STEEP APPROACH IN A TAILWIND CONDITION, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT POWER AVAILABLE TO ARREST THE SINK RATE. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SURFACE WINDS TO BE 6 TO 18 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 27 KNOTS, AND SEVERE TURBULENCE. HE RECEIVED WEATHER INFO FROM DUATS AND ATIS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND REPORTED THAT A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT HAD PASSED JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,105 hours in all; 805 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 2,950 as pilot in command; 528 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,332 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1993; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE N. Myrtle Beach SC at 4:00 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from MYR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.