Bell BH206L-1 accident near Gulf Of Mexico, Louisiana, January 9, 1986
On January 9, 1986 at about 7:57 pm local time, a Bell BH206L-1 (helicopter), registered N2653, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico, Louisiana. It was an executive or corporate 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
- January 9, 1986 · about 7:57 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell BH206L-1
- Registration
- N2653 · registry record · serial 4530
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO FROM A 100 FT AGL HOVER AFTER THE PLT LOST YAW CONTROL DOWNWIND OF AN OFFSHORE OIL PLATFORM IN 35 KT WINDS. AS THE ACFT CAME TO A HOVER IT BEGAN A TURN TO THE RIGHT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HEADED INTO THE WIND. FULL LEFT PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE SPIN ACCORDING TO THE PILOT WHO TRIED TO FLY AWAY RATHER THAN AUTOROTATE INTO 10 FT SEAS. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SPIN AND THEN LOST ALT TO WATER CONTACT WHERE IT ROLLED AND STARTED TO SINK. THE PILOT ESCAPED THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDSHIELD.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,245 hours in all; 4,273 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 9,028 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,680 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 31, 1985; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°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.