Bell 206L-1 accident near Eugene Island, August 10, 1987
On August 10, 1987 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N5000Y, was destroyed in an accident near Eugene Island (Eugene Island airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people 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
- August 10, 1987 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Eugene Island · Eugene Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5000Y · registry record · serial 45160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKE DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM. THE ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE UNDERSIDE OF A CABLE RACEWAY ON A DRILLING RIG THAT WAS SITUATED ADJACENT TO THE PLATFORM HELIDECK. THE RACEWAY WAS 9 FEET LATERALLY AND 22 FEET ABOVE THE HELIDECK EDGE. PLT HAD LANDED ON THE HELIDECK WHILE ANOTHER ACFT WAS PARKED ON THE DECK REQUIRING ACCIDENT PLT TO MAKE AN APP TO A HOVER THEN SLIDE SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE PAD AND SET DOWN WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES UNDER LAPPING THE BOTOM OF THE JACK UP DRILLING PLATFORM. AFTER LIFTOFF TO A HOVER, THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TRANSITION TO FWD FLT WHEN THE ROTOR STRIKE OCCURRED. FOLLOWING THE STRIKE, HE ATTEMPTED TO INFLATE. OPR'S SOP CALLS FOR MINIMUM OF 1/3 ROTOR DISC CLEARANCE FROM ALL OBSTACLES DURING T/O AND LNDG. THIS CLEARANCE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED WITH ONE ACFT ALREADY PARKED ON THE HELIDECK.
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: 5,502 hours in all; 3,059 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 5,390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,482 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: GM
- Destination: EL85 Eugene Is.85 GM
- Runway 0, 50 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from S198
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.