ATL85FA112

NTSB accident investigation · Bell 206L · Dauphin Island, AL · March 9, 1985

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report

Date: March 9, 1985, 11:05 local (17:05 UTC)
Place: Dauphin Island, AL
Injuries: 4 fatal
Damage: Destroyed
Phase of flight: Enroute
Aircraft: N16841Bell 206L
Weather: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19850309008779A
Case key: 6601

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise

Weather condition - low ceilingFactor

Weather evaluation - inadequatePilot in commandFactor

Weather condition - fogFactor

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

PressurePilot in commandFactor

Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - turn to reverse direction

Became lost/disoriented - uncontrolledPilot in commandCause

Lack of recent instrument timePilot in commandFactor

Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Plt departed for offshore oil rig 3 times. Two times reported returning due to fog. After third report, plt said he was IFR. No further radio communication. Wreckage indicative of high speed water impact. Dense fog and low ceiling reported offshore south of Dauphin Island. VFR flight. Plt not current in instrument conditions.

Aircraft

Registration: N16841
Reported as: Bell 206L
Category: Helicopter
Serial number: 45130
Airframe hours: 6,789
Engine: Allison 250C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Part 135
Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: AAIP · February 6, 1985 · 46 hours before
Departed: 4R9
Destination: Gulf Of Mexico, OF
Flight plan: Company VFR
Airport: Unknown

N16841Registration cancelled Apr 22, 1988 · Bell 206LS/N 45130 Airframe modelBell 206L

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 37
Certificate: Commercial
Instrument ratings: Helicopter
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Right
Flight hours: 7,060 total · 5,899 in this make and model · 6,769 as pilot in command · 54 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind: 180° at 6 knots
Visibility: 1 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: 50 ft
Temperature: 73 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19850309008779ABell 206L · Dauphin Island, ALDeparted into near zero IMC. Wreckage found indicates high speed water impact.Mar 9, 1985 · N16841 · Destroyed · 4 fatal