Bell 206L-1 accident near Grand Isle B43Q, January 27, 1983
On January 27, 1983 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N5012T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Isle B43Q (Grand Isle 43Q airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 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
- January 27, 1983 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Isle B43Q · Grand Isle 43Q
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5012T · no longer on the register · serial 45197
- 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
DUE TO THE LOCATION OF A GAS SEPARATOR, THE PLT STARTED TO TAKEOFF FROM AN OIL RIG PLATFORM WITH A LEFT CROSS- WIND AT APRX 30 KTS, GUSTING 35 TO 40 KTS. AFTER LIFTING OFF TO A HOVER, WIND GUSTS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT TURNED 10 TO 15 DEG LEFT & BANKED APRX 10 DEG TO THE RIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THE GUSTS LET UP SLIGHTLY & THE ACFT STABILIZED (LEVEL) MOMENTARILY, THEN ADDITIONAL GUSTS WERE ENCOUNTERED. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT ROLLED APRX 15 DEG RIGHT WHEN HE RAN OUT OF LEFT CYCLIC. REPORTEDLY, HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, BUT NOT BEFORE DYNAMIC ROLLOVER COULD BE AVOIDED.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,732 hours in all; 741 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 1,429 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,965 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 17, 1983; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250L28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: West Delta 68U GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 30 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; not recorded at 700 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:08 pm from LEV, 30 miles away
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.
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.