Bell B206BIII accident near Cameron, Louisiana, August 30, 1990
On August 30, 1990 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Bell B206BIII (helicopter), registered N59558, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cameron, Louisiana. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1990 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cameron, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell B206BIII
- Registration
- N59558 · no longer on the register · serial 1413
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION USING A 50 FEET SLING LINE. AFTER THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, THE PILOT INITIATED A LEFT PEDAL TURN. THE SLING LINE BECAME FULLY EXTENDED AND THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED BY A GROUND WITNESS TO DRAG THE CARGO BASKET ACROSS THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER BECAME UNSTABLE AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT FOR A RIGHT ROLL CONDITION. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT DID NOT USE THE RELEASE SYSTEM TO JETTISON THE LOAD.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,667 hours in all; 362 in this make and model; 149 in the last 90 days; 149 in the last 30 days; 1,697 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,557 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 30, 1989; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Evergreen Equity INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Holly Beach LA at 1:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.