Bell 206-L3 incident near Wc 368, January 8, 2001
On January 8, 2001 at about 5:54 pm local time, a Bell 206-L3 (helicopter), registered N142DP, suffered minor damage in an incident near Wc 368. 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
fuel exhaustion during approach due to the pilot's failure to refuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2001 · about 5:54 pm local time
- Place
- Wc 368 · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-L3 · all 206-L3s on the register
- Registration
- N142DP · registry record · serial 45585
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While operating off shore, transporting passengers to an oil platform, the pilot executed a forced water landing (autorotation) into open ocean in the Gulf of Mexico after a loss of engine power. According to the operator's flight following records, the helicopter had been operating for about 2 hours and 38 minutes after it was fueled with 98 gallons of fuel (approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes). During an examination of the helicopter, after recovery, approximately 1.2 gallons of Jet-A fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The fuel quantity indicator and "Fuel Low" warning system light functioned normally during tests. The operator stated that the reason for the forced landing was "apparent fuel exhaustion."
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
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 180 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,803 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 31, 2001; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rotorcraft CO. LLC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE High Island 287 GM at 5:25 pm
- Destination: NONE Westcameron 368 GM
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.