Bell 206L-1 accident near Houma, Louisiana, June 27, 1988
On June 27, 1988 at about 6:03 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N2611, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houma, Louisiana. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 27, 1988 · about 6:03 pm local time
- Place
- Houma, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2611 · registry record · serial 45417
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AT 300 FEET. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING IN A WET SWAMPY AREA WITH VERY HIGH VEGETATION, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAILBOOM. AT A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION, THE OPERATOR RAN THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTION. THE AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER WAS CHECKED AND NO CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND. THE OPERATOR DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE PNEUMATIC SYSTEM AND FOUND APPROXIMATELY 10 CUBIC CENTIMETERS OF WATER IN THE PC FILTER AND FUEL CONTROL.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 16,500 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1988; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:02 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from NEW, 62 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N2611 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.