Bell 206L-1 accident near Grand Isle, August 30, 1986
On August 30, 1986 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N3905G, was destroyed in an accident near Grand Isle (Grand Isle-43 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
- August 30, 1986 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Isle · Grand Isle-43
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N3905G · no longer on the register · serial 4560
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO FOLLOWING A SUSPECTED ENG FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF FROM AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE AT 40 KTS AND 200 FT ABOVE THE WATER, HE HEARD A LOUD SQUEAL FOLLOWED BY THE LOW RPM AUDIO AND A LOSS OF ENG POWER. HE ATTEMPTED TO INFLATE THE EMERGENCY FLOATS 2 OR 3 TIMES, BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE ACFT LANDED HARD ROLLED OVER AND SANK. THE PLT EXTRICATED HIMSELF AND SWAM BACK TO THE RIG WHERE HE WAS FOUND SEVERAL MINUTES LATER ON THE LOWER BOAT DECK. THE WRECKAGE SANK AND WAS NEVER RECOVERED.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,468 hours in all; 5,264 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days; 8,441 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,296 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from GNI
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.