# NTSB FTW78FA003: Bell 206B, N157AL, Grand Chenier, LA, October 10, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 10, 1977
- Place: Grand Chenier, LA · GRAND CHENIER, LA
- Location: 29.7669° N, 92.9751° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Chenier, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7669&lon=-92.9751&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA003

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3862  77/10/10 NR.GRAND CHENIER,LA   BELL 206B           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 2010
        TIME - 1945                    N157AL              PX-  1  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1231 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEW IBERIA,LA              GRAND CHENIER,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT FLYING LOW BECAUSE OF DETERIORATING WEATHER
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N157AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N157AL-1978-02-22), registration cancelled 1978-02-22, S/N 1798 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19771010039519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771010039519A), Oct 10, 1977: Bell 206B, Grand Chenier, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Plt flying low because of deteriorating weather

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.