Bell 206L-1 accident near Cameron, Louisiana, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N406EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cameron, Louisiana. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- July 14, 1983
- Place
- Cameron, Louisiana · map
- 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
- N406EH · registry record · serial 45183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER ROCKED AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM DURING AN OFF ARPT FORCED AUTOROTATION LANDING. THIS ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF ENGINE SURGES AND TOT FLUCTUATIONS. CHANGES HAD BEEN MADE TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DURING THIS FLT THE ENGINE QUIT ENTIRELY. THE ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND REBUILT. NOTHING WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A CAUSE FOR ENGINE FAILURE.
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: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,620 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 3,970 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,842 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cameron LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.