Bell 206L1 accident near Gulf Of Mexico, December 3, 1982
On December 3, 1982 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bell 206L1 (helicopter), registered N2252Z, was destroyed in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- December 3, 1982 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L1 · all 206L1s on the register
- Registration
- N2252Z · registry record · serial 45757
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS HIGHER THAN HE INTENDED TO BE OVER THE PLATFORM & HAD SET UP A RIGHT DOWNWIND APCH. HE HAD TROUBLE KEEPING UP THE GROUND TRACK DUE TO STRONG GUSTY WINDS. HE WAS ALMOST OVER THE PLATFORM & MADE A LARGE CORRECTION & BEGAN LETTING DOWN. THE TURN TO FINAL APPROACH WAS LARGER THAN 180 DEG. AS HE WAS APPROACHING AT ABOUT 300 FT, 60 MPH & GETTING READY TO ARM THE FLOATS, THE ACFT BEGAN A SUDDEN RATE OF DESCENT. FULL COLLECTIVE WAS INEFFECTIVE IN STOPPING THE SETTLING & THE ACFT STRUCK THE WATER & CAPSIZED WITHOUT THE POP-OUT FLOATS BEING INFLATED. COMPANY FLIGHT OPERATIONS PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE APPROACH AS FLOWN BY THE PLT WAS NOT ACCORDING TO THEIR NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,083 hours in all; 387 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 1,780 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 456 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: W. Cameron #199 GM at 8:24 am
- Destination: W. Cameron #180 GM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 153°F (67°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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 N2252Z 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.