Bell 206L-1 accident near Vermillion 39, February 8, 1993
On February 8, 1993 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter), registered N2244W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vermillion 39. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 1993 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vermillion 39
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · all 206L-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2244W · registry record · serial 45750
- 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 STATED THAT AFTER LIFTOFF FROM THE OFFSHORE PLATFORM, HE ATTAINED 60 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED AND CLIMBED TO 200 FEET AGL BEFORE ENTERING A LEFT TURN. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE DURING THE TURN AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE WATER. WITNESSES LOCATED 3 DECKS BELOW THE HELIDECK STATED THAT THEY OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DESCEND BELOW THEIR LEVEL AS IT CAME OFF OF THE HELIDECK IN A STEEP LEFT BANK, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, WHICH WAS MAINTAINED UNTIL WATER IMPACT. THE ATTITUDE WAS CONFIRMED BY THE LEFT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE OR ROTOR DRIVE TRAIN. THE PILOT DID NOT STATE WHY HE ATTEMPTED THE NOSE DOWN MANEUVER
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: 3,102 hours in all; 1,170 in this make and model; 131 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 2,671 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,894 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 4, 1993; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C28B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 8:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Vermillion 38 GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 250 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.