Bell 206L-1 accident near Intracstl City, Louisiana, March 3, 1984
On March 3, 1984 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N27798, was substantially damaged in an accident near Intracstl City, Louisiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- March 3, 1984 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Intracstl City, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N27798 · no longer on the register · serial 45330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH MARSH TERRAIN WHILE SPOTTING DEAD ALLIGATORS. THE PLT DOES NOT REMEMBER EVENTS OF THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER OPERATOR STATED THE HELICOPTER APPEARED TO HAVE IMPACTED AT A LOW AIRSPEED AT A NORMAL RPM. THE EMERGEMCY FLOATS WERE NOT ACTIVATED NOR ARMED.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 149 in the last 90 days; 7,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,384 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 2, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Comm Helicopters INC
The flight
- Departed from: Vrmlon Blk 310 GM at 5:45 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; not recorded at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from LFT, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.