Bell 206L-3 accident near Intracoastl Cty, Louisiana, May 10, 1994
On May 10, 1994 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N5844, was destroyed in an accident near Intracoastl Cty, Louisiana. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1994 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Intracoastl Cty, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N5844 · no longer on the register · serial 51468
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS THE THIRD AIRCRAFT TO DEPART ERATH HELISTOP EN ROUTE TO VERMILION 149 IN THE GULF OF MEXICO FOR CREW CHANGE. A SEARCH WAS STARTED WHEN THE PILOT DID NOT ARRIVE AT HIS DESTINATION. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ALONG THE INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM SHORE. ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE LOCATED WITHIN 100 FEET RADIUS OF THE WRECKAGE. A REVIEW OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE RECORDS DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES OR UNCORRECTED MAINTENANCE DEFECTS. CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED DURING A RECONSTRUCTION OF 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: airline transport 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: 4,045 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 3,941 as pilot in command; 108 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,183 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 2, 1994; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LA70 Erath LA at 12:57 pm
- Destination: Vermilion 149 GM
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:57 pm from 7R4, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.