Mbb BO 105CBS-4 accident near Ship Shoal 90, August 16, 1992
On August 16, 1992 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Mbb BO 105CBS-4 (helicopter), registered N295EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ship Shoal 90. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF POWER TO BOTH ENGINES FROM FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SWITCH ON THE MAIN FUEL BOOST PUMPS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1992 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ship Shoal 90
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO 105CBS-4 BO 105CBS-
- Registration
- N295EH · no longer on the register · serial S847
- 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 HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO WHEN THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE LOST POWER FOLLOWED BY THE NUMBER TWO ENGINE. THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE WATER. THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THE FORWARD AND AFT MAIN FUEL BOOST PUMPS WERE NOT SWITCHED 'ON' BY THE PILOT. THE BOOST PUMPS DIRECT FUEL TO THE SUPPLY TANK. EIGHTY GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE MAIN FUEL TANK. NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE NOTED TO THE HELICOPTER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,212 hours in all; 3,783 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,035 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 23, 1992; 235 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,512 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Era Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Grn Canyon 184 GM at 9:07 pm
- Destination: HUM Houma LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.