Bell 206B accident near Chalmette, Louisiana, November 23, 1988
On November 23, 1988 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N83109, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chalmette, Louisiana. 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 RATED PILOT'S INADEQUATE TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE THE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S MOMENTARY LACK OF JUDGEMENT IN HAVING THE PILOT ATTEMPT A HYDRAULICS OFF TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1988 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chalmette, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N83109 · no longer on the register · serial 938
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE RATED PILOT TO MAKE A HYDRAULICS-OFF TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN A FIXED FLOAT EQUIPPED HELICOPTER AND THE TAKEOFF WAS BEING ATTEMPTED FROM THE WATER. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT FLOAT LIFTED OFF FIRST AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND ROLLED LEFT, INVERTED IN THE WATER. HYDRAULICS-OFF TAKEOFFS ARE NOT NORMALLY PRACTICED FROM 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,163 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 6,329 as pilot in command; 1,581 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,405 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 4, 1988; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Chalmette LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from NEW, 6 miles away
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.