Bell 206B-3 accident near Lompoc, California, October 16, 1986
On October 16, 1986 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bell 206B-3 (helicopter), registered N3182V, was destroyed in an accident near Lompoc, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- October 16, 1986 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lompoc, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-3 · all 206B-3s on the register
- Registration
- N3182V · no longer on the register · serial 3783
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELIPAD DECK AT THE STERN OF THE BARGE WAS COVERED WITH A LOOSELY SECURED ROPE NET AND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER LIFTED UP TO A HOVER THE NET CAME UP 'CAUGHT ON THE REAR OF THE LEFT SKID.' THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO HOVER FOR A MOMENT WITH THE NET TANGLED IN THE LEFT SKID, THEN THE NET 'SUDDENLY LET GO.' THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO 'PITCH NOSE UP' AND BANK VIOLENTLY LEFT INTO A CRANE AND A DAVIT BEFORE IT FELL OVERBOARD AND SANK. ACCORDING TO A SURVIVING PASSENGER SEATED NEXT TO THE PILOT, AFTER THE HELICOPTER HOVERED FOR A MOMENT THE PILOT LEANED OVER AND ASKED 'ARE WE HUNG UP' JUST BEFORE THE HELICOPTER BANKED LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE STRUCTURES. BOTH OF THE HELICOPTER SKIDS AND OTHER WRECKAGE WAS FOUND CAUGHT ON THE DAVIT. EXAMINATION OF THE SKIDS REVEALED STRANDS OF THE ROPE MATERIAL CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE BOLT HEAD AND SKID FLANGE FOR THE LEFT GROUND HANDLING BOLT.
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: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,080 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 11,051 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,548 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 7, 1986; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Destination: SBA Goleta CA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:40 pm, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.