Bell 206B accident near South Pelto, June 8, 1984
On June 8, 1984 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N2276Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Pelto. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people 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
- June 8, 1984 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- South Pelto
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2276Q · no longer on the register · serial 3629
- 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
WHILE CRUISING AT 550 FT ABOVE THE GULF OF MEXICO, THE PLT NOTED HI TOT INDICATIONS, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF N1 RPM & ENG FAILURE. AN AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED WHICH TERMINATED IN A HARD LANDING IN 5 FT WAVES. ONE EMERGENCY FLOAT SEPARATED DURING THE LANDING & THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER, BUT CONTINUED TO FLOAT. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT A 2ND STAGE COMPRESSOR WHEEL BLADE, P/N 6890502, HAD FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE 2ND & 4TH STAGE AREAS OF THE ENG.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,167 hours in all; 252 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days; 647 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,460 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 30, 1984; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S Timbalier Blk GM at 5:52 pm
- Destination: Dulac LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.