Bell 206B III accident near Ship Shoal 241, September 13, 1984
On September 13, 1984 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Bell 206B III (helicopter), registered N22713, was destroyed in an accident near Ship Shoal 241. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 13, 1984 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ship Shoal 241
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B III · all 206B IIIs on the register
- Registration
- N22713 · no longer on the register · serial 3617
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD LANDED ON A OFFSHORE HELIDECK, WHICH HAD ONE AIRCRAFT PARKED ON IT. AFTER THE PASSENGERS WERE CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A HOVER. DURING THE HOVER, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT SLIGHTLY AND ONE SKID STRUCK A HATCH COVER THAT PROTRUDED 8.5' ABOVE THE HELIDECK, ABOUT 3.5' INBOARD OF THE EDGE.AS THE SKID HIT THE HATCH COVER, THE AIRCRAFT PIVOTED AROUND THE CONTACT POINT AND ENTERED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY ROLLED OFF THE DECK AND CRASHED ONTO A LOWER LEVEL OF THE OIL RIG.
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: 4,153 hours in all; 2,270 in this make and model; 182 in the last 90 days; 3,799 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,621 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 27, 1984; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ship Shoal 241 GM
- Destination: EI25 Eugene Island GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from S154, 10 miles away
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.