Sikorsky S-76A accident near Houma, Louisiana, February 19, 1985
On February 19, 1985 at about 7:30 am local time, a Sikorsky S-76A (helicopter), registered N31223, was destroyed in an accident near Houma, Louisiana (Houma-Terrebonne airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 19, 1985 · about 7:30 am local time
- Place
- Houma, Louisiana · Houma-Terrebonne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-76A · all S-76As on the register
- Registration
- N31223 · no longer on the register · serial 760257
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCREW HAD JUST COMPLETED A MEDIVAC FLT & WERE REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER TO THE HOME BASE. WHILE THEY WERE EN ROUTE, THE COMPANY DISPATCHER INFORMED THE CREW THAT FOG WAS MOVING INTO THE AREA & THAT THEY HAD BETTER HURRY. DURING THE NIGHT APCH, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, ABOUT 300 WEST OF THE THRESHOLD TO RWY 18. THE CREW STATED THAT THE LAST THING THEY REMEMBER WAS BEING AT 250 FT AGL WHILE ATTEMPTING A VFR APCH. ONE PLT WAS MONITORING THE INSTRUMENTS WHILE THE OTHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN THE RWY ENVIRONMENT. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED & THE PLTS WERE QUALIFIED TO MAKE AN INSTRUMENT APCH.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,554 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 1, 1985; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Abbeville LA
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.