Bell 206L-1 accident near Matagorda 665, February 5, 1987
On February 5, 1987 at about 2:47 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N5012Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Matagorda 665. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- February 5, 1987 · about 2:47 pm local time
- Place
- Matagorda 665
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5012Z · no longer on the register · serial 45198
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF FM AN OFF-SHORE OIL PLATFORM WITH 3 PAX ON BOARD. SHORTLY AFTER DEPG, HE TRANSMITTED A 'MAYDAY,' BUT DID NOT STATE THE NATURE OF THE EMERG. A PAX RPRTD THAT THE ENG SOUND CHANGED & THE PLT TOLD HIM TO 'GET THE RAFT OUT.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN ROUGH WTR & SANK. A SHRIMP BOAT ARRIVED IN ABOUT 30 TO 40 MIN & ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE HELICOPTER WERE RETRIEVED. LATER, THE PLT & 1 PAX DIED FROM INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RECOVERED, BUT A FLOAT INFLATION BOTTLE WAS FOUND; THE BOTTLE WAS FULLY CHARGED & THE SQUIB HAD NOT BEEN FIRED.
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: 6,387 hours in all; 2,219 in this make and model; 176 in the last 90 days; 6,245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1986; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Logistics
The flight
- Departed from: Matagorda 665 GM at 2:45 pm
- Destination: TS73 Rockport TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from CRP, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.