Bell 206B accident near Port O'Connor, Texas, January 7, 1986
On January 7, 1986 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N520EH, was destroyed in an accident near Port O'Connor, Texas (Era Heliport airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- January 7, 1986 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Port O'Connor, Texas · Era Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N520EH · no longer on the register · serial 3020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED A LOSS OF TAILROTOR DRIVE ON LIFT OFF. A BONDING IN A SHAFT COUPLING FAILED. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS DISCOVERED NO DISCREPANCIES IN DESIGN, PRODUCTION, QUALITY ASSURANCE, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATING ENVIRONMENT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THIS FAILURE. ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OCCURRENCE WAS DOCUMENTED, IN AN ASSEMBLY FROM ANOTHER VENDOR.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,136 hours in all; 603 in this make and model; 204 in the last 90 days; 1,751 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,594 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 3, 1986; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Offshore Rig GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 20 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.