Bell 206L-1 accident near New Iberia, Louisiana, August 12, 1987
On August 12, 1987 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N2764F, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Iberia, Louisiana (Acadiana Reg. 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
- August 12, 1987 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Iberia, Louisiana · Acadiana Reg. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2764F · no longer on the register · serial 45279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
CREW PERFORMING PRACTICE TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATIONS DURING A TRNG FLT. ON 4TH AUTOROTATION, ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH EXCESS GRND SPEED AND SKIDDED FOR APPROX 75' ON THE WET, SOFT GRASS. WHEN CREW APPLIED POWER BACK TO FLIGHT RPM THEY HEARD A GRINDING SOUND AND FELT A VIBRATION. VISUAL INSP REVEALED THAT THE TAILBOOM HAD SEPARATED AFT OF THE ATTACHMENTS DUE TO RESONANCE. THIS ACFT IS SUBJECT TO RESONANCE IF ROTOR RPM IS ALLOWED TO DECAY BELOW 70% DURING TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATIONS OR DURING LENGTHY GROUND RUNS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,250 hours in all; 3,227 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 5,965 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,752 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 28, 1987; 35 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: LFT Lafayette LA at 1:30 pm
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from ARA
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.