Bell 206B accident near West Cameron 28, September 1, 1988
On September 1, 1988 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N5747Z, was destroyed in an accident near West Cameron 28. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- September 1, 1988 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- West Cameron 28
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5747Z · registry record · serial 3127
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED THE HEICOPTER ON A DRILLING PLATFORM AND INSTRUCTED THE MECHANIC TO INSTALL ONLY THE FORWARD TIE-DOWNS. THE MECHANIC SECURED THE FORWARD AND AFT TIE-DOWNS AND SECURED THE FORWARD ROTOR BLADES. WHEN THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE HELICOPTER, HE REMOVED THE ROTOR BLADE TIE-DOWN AND THE FORWARD TIE-DOWNS, BUT NOT THE AFT TIE-DOWNS. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE, SETTLED BACK ON THE SAFETY FENCE AND SLID BACKWARD INTO THE WATER.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,634 hours in all; 8,454 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 107 in the last 30 days; 14,083 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,622 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 27, 1988; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: West Cameron280 GM at 2:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; scat at 600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from V245
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.