# NTSB FTW81DA129: Bell 206L, N9973K, Leeville, LA, August 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 7, 1981
- Place: Leeville, LA · LEEVILLE, LA
- Location: 29.2480° N, 90.2076° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Leeville, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2480&lon=-90.2076&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DA129
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DA129

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2521   81/8/7    LEEVILLE,LA         BELL 206L           CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 4950
        TIME - 1000                    N9973K              PX-  0  1  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 2091 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LEEVILLE,LA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WINDSHIELD,DIRTY,FOGGY,ETC.-RESTRICTED VISION
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      82
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- FOG ON WNDSHLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9973K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9973K-1985-02-14), registration cancelled 1985-02-14, S/N 45037 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L
- Registry model: [Bell 206L](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l) (registry code 1181522) (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 19810807048179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810807048179A), Aug 7, 1981: Bell 206L, Leeville, LA, Destroyed. Took off into heavy rain and turbulence. Lost control, crashed in water. Water spouts, thunderstorms in area.

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.