Bell 206B accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, September 17, 1985
On September 17, 1985 at about 7:04 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N2160L, was destroyed in an accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1985 · about 7:04 pm local time
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2160L · no longer on the register · serial 2182
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PWR WITHIN 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A FISHING VESSEL. THE HELICOPTER WAS DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AT COORDINATES 11.25'N AND 103.37'W. EXAMINATION OF FUEL SAMPLES FROM THE FISHING VESSEL REVEALED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER FUEL FILTERS WERE HEAVILY CONTAMINATED WITH WATER AND OTHER FOREIGN MATERIAL. ROUGH SEAS WERE REPORTED FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE DAYS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,630 hours in all; 11,500 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 13,430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,024 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1985; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Caribbean Marina Serv. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Fishing Vessel at 6:54 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.