Sikorsky S-58ET accident near Gulf Of Mexico, April 20, 1985
On April 20, 1985 at about 5:00 am local time, a Sikorsky S-58ET (helicopter), registered N65526, was destroyed in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- April 20, 1985 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58ET · all S-58ETs on the register
- Registration
- N65526 · no longer on the register · serial 58-750
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER DISAPPEARED WHILE ON AN OVERWATER FLT FROM KEY WEST, FL TO FT PEIRCE, FL. ONE OCCUPANT & THE WRECKAGE OF THE HELICOPTER WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE PLT & THE OTHER OCCUPANT WERE NOT LOCATED & WERE PRESUMED DEAD. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, 1 OF THE CREWMEMBERS WAS OVERHEARD TO SAY 'THAT DIDN'T SOUND GOOD'REFERRING TO SOME UNUSUAL SOUND AT THE TIME OF SHUT-DOWN. THE PLT TOLD A WITNESS THEY WERE HAVING MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY WHICH THEY WOULD CORRECT IN FT PIERCE. ANOTHER WITNESS HEARD THE PLT STATE TO 1 OF THE PAX THAT A CAP OR PART HAD FALLEN OFF & WAS MISSING. AN EXAM OF THE ROTATING & STATIONARY SWASHPLATES WHICH MADE UP THE STAR ASS'Y REVEALED THAT THEY HAD SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THAT 8 OF THE 12 BOLTS WHICH SECURED THE ROTATING STAR INNER RACE TO THE ASS'Y HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE; THE OTHER 4 BOLTS WERE MISSING. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BELLY, TAIL CONE & PYLON.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,800 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 7,843 as pilot in command; 1,067 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,548 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 12,700 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6T-3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW Key West FL
- Destination: FPR Ft. Pierce FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from EYW, 57 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.