Bell 206L accident near Islamorada, Florida, October 5, 1985
On October 5, 1985 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Bell 206L (helicopter), registered N60C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Islamorada, Florida. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. 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 5, 1985 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Islamorada, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- N60C · registry record · serial 45102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AFTER LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AFTER RECOVERY FROM THE OCEAN REVEALED THJE PC OR COMPRESSOR PRESSURE AIR LINE HAD FAILED AT A 'B' NUT AT THE COMPRESSOR SCHROLL. WITH THIS LINE FAILED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE ABOVE IDLE SPEED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED LINE REVEALED IT FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE LINE BEING MISALIGNED DURING INSTALLATION.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,799 hours in all; 704 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,571 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 16, 1985; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from EYW, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.