Bell 206L-3 accident near Houma, Louisiana, September 20, 1997
On September 20, 1997 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N210PH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houma, Louisiana. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of aircraft control resulting from a bird strike that severed the cyclic flight control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1997 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Houma, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N210PH · no longer on the register · serial 51541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A bird struck and sheared the cyclic push pull tube during the helicopter's cruise flight at 800 feet MSL. The helicopter started 'shaking violently' and cyclic inputs did not correct the attitude of the aircraft. When the pilot lowered the collective full down and rolled the throttle to the idle position, the helicopter entered a 'near level attitude and a slight left bank.' At about 15 feet AGL, the pilot applied full aft cyclic and pulled pitch for the landing. The helicopter touched the ground in a left sideways movement and bounced once before coming to rest.
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: 8,108 hours in all; 4,342 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,821 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 2, 1997; 18 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 Fort Jackson LA at 9:47 pm
- Destination: HUM LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N210PH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.