Mbb BO-105-CBS accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, February 20, 1986
On February 20, 1986 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Mbb BO-105-CBS (helicopter), registered N425EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana (Lake Charles airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- February 20, 1986 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Charles, Louisiana · Lake Charles
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105-CBS
- Registration
- N425EH · no longer on the register · serial 551
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS SIMULATING A SINGLE ENG LANDING ON AN AREA MARKED TO THE SIZE OF AN OFFSHORE HELIDECK. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF SEVERAL WITNESSES. THE CREW CONTINUED WITH THE TRAINING BUT LATER ON POST FLT EXAM THEY DISCOVERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE TO THE STRINGERS AND SKIN NEAR THE LNDG SKID ATTACH POINTS.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,979 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days; 7,593 as pilot in command; 137 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,331 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 10, 1986; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C-20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCH at 9:35 pm
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from LCH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.