Bell 206L-3 accident near E.I. Blk 108, January 29, 1992
On January 29, 1992 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N65603, was substantially damaged in an accident near E.I. Blk 108. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF FOG AND LOW CEILINGS DURING DAWN LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1992 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- E.I. Blk 108
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N65603 · no longer on the register · serial 51428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE OFF SHORE BASED HELICOPTER ATTEMPTED TO FLY TO A SATELLITE OFF SHORE OIL PLATFORM IN FOGGY DAWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. DURING THE APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION PLATFORM, VISUAL REFERENCE WAS LOST AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED INTO THE WATER, ROLLED OVER AND SANK. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,787 hours in all; 4,660 in this make and model; 238 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,282 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 9, 1992; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C-30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Industrial Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.