Bell 206B accident near Grand Isle Blk, August 4, 1983
On August 4, 1983 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N39114, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Isle Blk (Charlie Oscar airport). It was a business 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
- August 4, 1983 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Isle Blk · Charlie Oscar
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N39114 · no longer on the register · serial 3293
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLARING TO LAND ON AN OFF-SHORE PLATFORM, THE PLT NOTED A SUDDEN VIBRATION. HE CONTINUED THE LANDING; HOWEVER, BY THE TIME THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN, THE VIBRATION BECAME SEVERE & THE ACFT TURNED TO THE RIGHT. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT A MIDSPAN BALANCE WEIGHT HAD SEPARATED FROM A MAIN ROTOR BLADE, PN 206-010-200-33. WHILE REACTING TO THE EMERGENCY, THE BOTTOM VERTICAL FIN CONTACTED THE EDGE OF THE PLATFORM.
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: 2,706 hours in all; 1,826 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,774 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 8, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Leeville LA at 11:29 am
- Destination: Offshore GM
- Runway 0, 40 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.