Bell 206L-3 accident near Gulf Of Mexico, October 29, 1993
On October 29, 1993 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N5370V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION IN THAT HE FAILED TO REMOVE A TIE DOWN ROPE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1993 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N5370V · no longer on the register · serial 51254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DUE TO THE HIGH WIND, THE HELICOPTER WAS TIED DOWN ON THE OIL RIG'S HELIDECK WITH FOUR ROPES. DURING PREPARATIONS FOR TAKEOFF, THE LEFT FRONT TIE DOWN ROPE WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT FASTENED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH WIND CONDITIONS AND TIME CONSTRAINTS. THE PILOT LIFTED THE HELICOPTER OFF THE DECK AND MADE A LEFT TURN INTO THE WIND. HE FELT A SLIGHT TUG, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE TURBULENCE. AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT TWO OR THREE FEET, THE NOSE PITCHED ABRUPTLY DOWN AND THE PILOT FELT 'TWO QUICK MAST BUMPS.' HIS CORRECTIVE CONTROL INPUT AND THE HELICOPTER'S ATTITUDE CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO CONTACT THE TAILBOOM, SEVERING THE 90 DEGREE GEAR BOX. THE HELICOPTER THEN SPUN 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE HELIDECK ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS INFLUENCED BY THE 'PRESSURES OF WEATHER AND MISSION COMPLETION.'
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,830 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 166 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 12,090 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,857 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 26, 1993; 80 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: NONE GM at 9:35 pm
- Destination: 8LA5 Venice LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 30 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; not recorded at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.