Bell 206L-1 accident near Lafayette, Louisiana, June 27, 1983
On June 27, 1983 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N3904L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lafayette, Louisiana (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- June 27, 1983 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lafayette, Louisiana · Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N3904L · no longer on the register · serial 45597
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER THE PLT NOTED THE ROTOR RPM AND N2 WOULD BLEED OFF WHEN COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS INCREASED TO 80 PERCENT TORQUE. THE PLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT AND ELECTED TO AUTOROTATE INSTEAD OF LANDING WITH POWER AVAILABLE. THE AUTOROTATION RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. THE POWER LOSS WAS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE FULL CONTROL LEVER TO OPEN FULLY. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A MECHANIC OVERTIGHTING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WHEN A PLT COMPLAINED OF THROTTLE CREEPING OPEN. THIS CREEPING IS CONSIDERED NORMAL ON A BELL 206L-1 ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR.
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: 2,993 hours in all; 1,274 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 2,635 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,702 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 24, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C-28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: High Island GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from LFT
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 N3904L 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.