Sikorsky S76A incident near Cameron, Louisiana, November 9, 1983
On November 9, 1983 at about 2:00 am local time, a Sikorsky S76A (helicopter), registered N5444X, suffered minor damage in an incident near Cameron, Louisiana (Petroleum Helt airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 incident. 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
- November 9, 1983 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Cameron, Louisiana · Petroleum Helt · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S76A · all S76As on the register
- Registration
- N5444X · no longer on the register · serial 760174
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS ON INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE #1 ENGINE FAILED EXPLOSIVLY. A POST EXPLOSION FIRE ENSUED AND BOTH FIRE BOTTLES WERE UTILIZED TO NO AVAIL. DURING LANDING THE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SETTLED ON ITS BELLY. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,062 hours in all; 1,574 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 9,642 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,994 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250C30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from LCH, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.