# Accident 19970823023519A: Bell 206B, Oak Grove, AL, August 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 23, 1997, 10:30 local time
- Place: Oak Grove, AL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 32.8605° N, 91.3899° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8605&lon=-91.3899&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7929J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7929J-2018-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA326) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970823023519A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER LOWERING SLING LOAD ONTO A BOAT, TAIL ROTOR SUPPOSEDLY FAILED, STRUCK BOAT, FELL INTO WATER, SANK. (-23) PILOT APPROACHED BOAT OFFSHORE WITH A SLING LOAD. PILOT LOST HELICOPTER ON FIRST PASS TO BOAT, CRASHING INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

## 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 FTW97LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA326), Aug 23, 1997: Bell 206B (N7929J), Oak Grove, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disconnect of the #5 tail rotor drive segment due to the debonding of the joint between the shaft tube and the flange fitting. Factors were the improper bead blasting of the tail rotor drive…

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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