# Accident 19960312003909A: Bell 206B, Houma, LA, March 12, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 12, 1996, 09:00 local time
- Place: Houma, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: LCFL
- Location: 29.5796° N, 90.8104° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5796&lon=-90.8104&mi=10
- Aircraft: N115FH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115FH-2017-09-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960312003909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HELICOPTER CONDUCTING SEISMIC WORK USING 100FT LONG EXTERNAL LOAD, CRASHED.(-23) THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING CLASS B EXTERNAL-LOAD OPERATIONS, 14 CFR, PART 133, SUPPORTING A SEISMIC OPERATION IN THE MARSHLANDS NEAR HOUMA, LOUISIANA. A GROUP OF MEN OPERATING AIR BOATS WERE REMOVING SEISMIC SENSORS FROM THE MARSH. THE HELICOPTER WOULD MEET EACH AIR BOAT AND THE GROUND PERSONNEL WOULD LOAD THE SEISMIC EQUIPMENT INTO THE METAL BOX THAT WAS BEING CARRIED BY THE HELICOPTER. AFTER LOWERING THE METAL BASKET TO THE GROUND, THE PILOT WAS NOTIFIED BY HAND SIGNALS THAT THE GROUND CREW HAD STUCK THE AIR BOAT. A PERSON ON THE AIRBOAT DETACHED THE LOG LINE CABLE FROM THE BASKET AND REATTACHED IT TO THE AIRBOAT. THE PILOT WAS THEN SIGNALED TO PULL THE BOAT FREE FROM THE MUD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL THE BOAT FREE, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND A AS A RESULT, CRASHED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA147), Mar 12, 1996: Bell 206BIII (N115FH), Houma, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's attempted maneuver which exceeded the dynamic capability of the helicopter.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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