Bell 206B accident near North Padre 967, September 29, 1985
On September 29, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N305AL, was destroyed in an accident near North Padre 967 (North Padre 967 airport). 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 29, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Padre 967 · North Padre 967
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N305AL · registry record · serial 001968
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF WITH A ROPE STILL ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD FUSELAGE TIEDOWN. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED DOWN AS THE TAIL LIFTED TO A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT INFLATED THE FLOATSBUT THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED INVERTED AFTER WATER IMPACT. HE ESCAPED AND SWAM TO A RAFT BUT HAD SUSTAINED BACK INJURY DURING THE IMPACT.
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: 2,118 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 187 in the last 90 days; 1,523 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,628 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 5, 1985; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 SER (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: North Padre 956 GM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.