# NTSB DFW07IA018: Bell 206-L4, N266AL, Abbeville, LA, October 6, 2006 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 2006, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Abbeville, LA - Coordinates: 29.969259, -92.119491 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9693&lon=-92.1195&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Air Logistics, LLC, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07IA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64789/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07IA018 ## Probable cause A fire in the baggage area for undetermined reasons. ## Analysis Prior to the helicopter's departure from an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, two passengers loaded the helicopter's baggage compartment with two small duffel bags and a backpack. After arriving at the helicopter's base approximately 35 minutes later, they went to the rear of the helicopter where they noticed smoke coming from the baggage compartment. A fire in the compartment was quickly extinguished. Both passengers reported that they had smelled something burning before leaving the oil platform, but were told the coastal marsh is burnt every year and the smell is noticed from the platforms. The passenger's baggage contained two handheld radios that were sent to the National Transportation Safety Boards Material fire laboratory in Washington, D.C., for examination. Examination of the radios failed to identify any anomalies, and a source for the fire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 2006, approximately 1345 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 206-L4 helicopter, N266AL, registered to and operated by Air Logistics, LCC, of New Iberia, Louisiana, experienced a baggage compartment fire after landing. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 on-demand air-taxi flight. The flight departed from an offshore oil platform, Vermillion 156 (VE 156), located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 35 minutes prior to it's arrival at the company's intra-coastal base located near Abbeville, Louisiana. Both passengers reported they loaded the helicopter's baggage compartment with two small duffel bags and a backpack, prior to departing the platform. After arriving at the helicopter's base in Abbeville, they exited the helicopter and proceeded to the rear of the helicopter when they noticed smoke coming from the baggage compartment. When the pilot opened the compartment door, flames came out of the baggage area. The fire was quickly extinguished, and the helicopter received minor fire damage. In a post incident interview, both passengers stated that they smelled something burning before leaving VE 156, but they were told the coastal marsh is burnt every year, and the smell is noticed from the coastal platforms. The passengers baggage was inventoried and two Motorola radios were identified and sent to the National Transportation Safety Boards Material fire laboratory in Washington, D.C. for further examination. Examination of the radios failed to identify any anomalies, and a source for the fire could not be determined. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - engine(s) not operating - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: N266AL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-L4 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 52281 - Engines: Allison 250-C30 turbo shaft - Damage: Minor damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Air Logistics - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Gulf of Mexico - Destination: Abbeville, LA - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20061006023119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061006023119I), Oct 6, 2006: Bell 206L4, Abbeville, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) Inspectors statement from passengers interviews: aircraft landed at vermillion east 156; while loading their baggage both passengers recall smelling… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.