Bell 206B accident near Eugene Island, September 19, 1986
On September 19, 1986 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N16978, was destroyed in an accident near Eugene Island. 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
- September 19, 1986 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Eugene Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N16978 · no longer on the register · serial 2378
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT ENGAGED IN OFF-SHORE FLIGHT OPERATIONS FAILED TO REMOVE AIRCRAFT TIE-DOWN LINES PRIOR TO TAKE OFF FROM THE OIL RIG. PILOT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT IN A HOVER CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO COLLIDE WITH A METAL SAFETY NET AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BOOM OF A CRANE. TAIL SECTION OF AIRCRAFT SEPARATED AND LODGED IN CRANE BOOM. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER INVERTED AND SANK. AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED. PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. HOWEVER, ONE COMPANY EMPLOYEE LOCATED IN NEAR-BY BUNKHOUSE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES TO BOTH LEGS.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,983 hours in all; 2,943 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 2,983 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,852 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 27, 1985; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from HUM, 95 miles away
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.