# NTSB FTW82DA029: Bell 206L-1, N57494, Gulf Of Mexico (Atlantic Ocean), December 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 5, 1981
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico (Atlantic Ocean) · GULF OF MEXICO, AO
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 19, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3277   81/12/5   GULF OF MEXICO      BELL 206L-1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 5640
        TIME - 1438                    N57494              PX-  0  0  3  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 940 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WEST DELTA 86 RIG           SOUTH PASS 89 RIG
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE INDICATING EQUIPMENT: TACHOMETER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LACK OF LUBRICATION-SPECIFIC PART,NOT SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SHEARED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: EMERGENCY FLOTATION GEAR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH WATER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- TACH GEN COUPLING SHAFT SHEARED. BEARING FAILURE. EMERG FLOAT SEPARATED AT IMPACT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N57494 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19811205077819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811205077819A), Dec 5, 1981: Bell 206L1, South Pass, LA, Substantial damage. Helicopter crashed during autorotation after engine failure. N1 tach generator drive shaft was found sheared.

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.

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