Bell 206B accident near Matagorda 713, November 15, 1998
On November 15, 1998 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N21466, was substantially damaged in an accident near Matagorda 713. It was a positioning 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's loss of control due to his failure to untie ground straps. A factor was his inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1998 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Matagorda 713
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N21466 · no longer on the register · serial 3459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff from an offshore oil platform, the helicopter impacted the platform. After the accident, it was confirmed that the helicopter's front two skid tie down straps were not removed during preflight.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,771 hours in all; 7,100 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 10,771 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,271 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 9, 1998; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C-20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Matagorda 713 GM at 3:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Matagorda 633 GM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from CRP, 50 miles away
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.