Bell 206BIII accident near Gulf Of Mexico, March 26, 1986
On March 26, 1986 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Bell 206BIII (helicopter), registered N3181Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- March 26, 1986 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206BIII · all 206BIIIs on the register
- Registration
- N3181Y · registry record · serial 3772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FAILED TO ASSURE THE CABIN DOOR WAS PROPERLY CLOSED BEFORE FLIGHT, OR THE CABIN DOOR JUST POPPED OPEN DURING FLIGHT, ALLOWING AN UNSECURED LIFE VEST TO BLOW OUT THE DOOR AND INTO THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY DEPARTING THE HELICOPTER. A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION INTO THE WATER WAS CONDUCTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CABIN DOOR.
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: 5,152 hours in all; 3,182 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 4,822 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,931 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 21, 1986; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petrolium Helicopters, INC
The flight
- Departed from: St-172 GM at 6:10 pm
- Destination: St-26 GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.