Bell 206B accident near West Delta 105D, April 13, 1982
On April 13, 1982 at about 11:27 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N41AL, was destroyed in an accident near West Delta 105D. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 13, 1982 · about 11:27 pm local time
- Place
- West Delta 105D
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N41AL · registry record · serial 917
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON TAKEOFF FROM AN OIL RIG HELIDECK, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION AREA AND NOTICED A CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE. HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM THE OIL RIG, INFLATED THE POP OUT FLOATS AND AUTOROTATED TO THE WATER. ON IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT SANK WHILE BEING TOWED TO THE OIL RIG FOR RECOVERY. THE WRECKAGE WAS NOT RECOVERED AND THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,623 hours in all; 1,609 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 5,586 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,409 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Logistics
The flight
- Departed from: West Delta 105D GM at 5:27 pm
- Destination: West Delta 105D GM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:27 pm from 105D
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.
Other NTSB records under N41AL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.