Bell 206A accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, March 1, 1994
On March 1, 1994 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bell 206A (helicopter), registered N4712R, was destroyed in an accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1994 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206A · all 206As on the register
- Registration
- N4712R · no longer on the register · serial 240
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a report from the operator, the helicopter had completed the assigned fish spotting mission and was returning to the ship when it disappeared from the ship's radar, about 3 miles short of the vessel. There were no known distress calls prior to the disappearance. A search of the area around the last known position of the helicopter revealed parts of an emergency float system known to have been installed on the helicopter, and the bodies of the pilot and spotter. No trace of additional aircraft components were found. The pilot was a Panamanian citizen who reportedly held a pilot certificate issued by the Republic of Panama. The fish spotter was a Mexican national who has not been identified.
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, foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,717 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: L & M Offshore Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Ship El Quijote at 3:30 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.