Bell 206L-1 accident near Shipshoal 295, March 1, 1983
On March 1, 1983 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N1076S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shipshoal 295 (Shipshoal 295 airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- March 1, 1983 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Shipshoal 295 · Shipshoal 295
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N1076S · no longer on the register · serial 45372
- 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
REPORTEDLY, THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE A 2 TO 4 KTS AS THE PLT BEGAN HIS APPROACH TO AN OFF-SHORE OIL RIG. HE STATED THAT HE CHOSE TO TERMINATE THE LANDING FROM A 4 FT HOVER. AT APRX 15 FT ABOVE & 5 FT SHORT OF THE HELIPAD, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DROP AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE APPLIED COLLECTIVE, BUT THE ACFT FELL THROUGH & HE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE FALL. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED INITIALLY ON THE FLAT SAFETY NET SHORT OF THE HELIPAD. IT THEN TURNED 180 DEG & BOUNCED ONTO THE HELIPAD. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WAS FOUND DURING A TEARDOWN. REPORTEDLY, THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SETTLE WITH POWER.
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: 1,487 hours in all; 478 in this make and model; 166 in the last 90 days; 1,182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,891 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 15, 1983; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,050 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Shipshoal 246 GM
- Destination: Shipshoal 295 GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.