Bell 212 accident near Eugene Island, July 11, 1983
On July 11, 1983 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Bell 212 (helicopter), registered N16989, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eugene Island. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- July 11, 1983 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Eugene Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 212 · all 212s on the register
- Registration
- N16989 · no longer on the register · serial 30901
- 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
AFTER MAKING AN APCH TO AN OFF-SHORE OIL WELL HELIPORT, THE PLT BELIEVED THE TAIL ROTOR WAS TOO CLOSE TO A STAIRWELL, SO HE MADE A PEDDLE TURN TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE TURN, THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED A CRANE. THE CRANE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 15 FT FROM THE HELIPORT. AFTER THE BLADE STRIKE, THE PLT MADE A HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO THE HELIPAD.
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: 10,822 hours in all; 1,467 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 4,070 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,538 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 17, 1983; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6T-3TWINPAC (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Morgan City LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.