Bell 206BIII accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, March 10, 1994
On March 10, 1994 at about 4:52 pm local time, a Bell 206BIII (helicopter), registered N57340, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was a positioning flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM A PREFLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1994 · about 4:52 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Charles, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206BIII · all 206BIIIs on the register
- Registration
- N57340 · no longer on the register · serial 2998
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE LEFT SKID CAME OFF OF THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LANDING ZONE WAS 'SOGGY' AND THAT THE RIGHT SKID 'CUT INTO THE SOD FAIRLY WELL...BRINGING ABOUT THE RAPID ROLL RATE TO THE RIGHT' WHEN THE RIGHT HEAL DID NOT COME OUT OF THE SOD.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,203 hours in all; 4,611 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 8,926 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.