Bell 206 incident near Gulf Of Mexico, Louisiana, July 26, 2010
On July 26, 2010 at about 7:42 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered N317RL, suffered minor damage in an incident during takeoff near Gulf Of Mexico, Louisiana (South Timbalier 178A airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 loss of main rotor rpm during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2010 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico, Louisiana · South Timbalier 178A · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L4 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N317RL · registry record · serial 52317
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff from an offshore oil platform, the pilot reported a loss of main rotor rpm. The pilot activated the emergency float system and initiated an autorotation to the water. Upon touchdown, the engine was still operating. The pilot shut down the engine and prepared the passengers to evacuate. All three occupants safely evacuated the helicopter (which was upright on its skid-mounted float system) and boarded the emergency life raft that the pilot had inflated. The helicopter remained upright floating on the water and was later recovered and transported to the operator’s on-shore maintenance facility. The operator did immediate fuel quality tests at the facility where the helicopter had most recently been refueled and found no problems. An examination of the helicopter drive systems and a test run of the engine did not reveal any preincident anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the main rotor system. The cause of the loss of main rotor rpm could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › (general) › Capability exceeded
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,297 hours in all; 239 in this make and model; 39 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,544 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 26, 2010; 127 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rotorcraft Leasing CO LLC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Gulf Of Mexico LA at 7:42 pm
- Destination: NONE Gulf Of Mexico LA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 84°F (29°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from HUM, 63 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.