# NTSB FTW86LRA07: Bell 206L-1, N5748Y, Sabine Pass, TX, January 25, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: January 25, 1986, 09:04 local (15:04 UTC)
- Place: Sabine Pass, TX
- Coordinates: 29.730091, -93.889869 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7301&lon=-93.8899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22127
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86LRA07
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22127/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86LRA07

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - became lost/disoriented - uncontrolled, pilot in command
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER ENROUTE FROM SHORE TO AN OIL RIG THAT WAS UNDER TOW IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. UPON ENCOUNTERING IMC CONDITIONS, THE PLT CLIMBED TO 600' AGL FOR BETTER OBSTACLE CLEARANCE AND TURNED BACK TOWARD THE BEACH. DURING A SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO REACQUIRE VMC CONDITIONS THE PLT ENTERED A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE TURN A RAPID DESCENT RATE DEVELOPED AND THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ARREST IT USING FULL COLLECTIVE, JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE TIDAL MUD FLATS. THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING WITH NO DAMAGE BUT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED DURING THE RECOVERY EFFORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5748Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5748Y-1993-02-11), registration cancelled 1993-02-11, S/N 45495 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45495
- Airframe hours: 3435
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28 435 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Omni Flight Offshore
- Registered owner: Omniflight Offshore Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,473 total, 17 in this make and model, 3,222 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RPE, 4 nm away

## 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 19860125001359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860125001359A), Jan 25, 1986: Bell 206L1, Sabine Pass, TX, Destroyed. The helicopter landed hard on mud flats. The pilot made the precautionary landing to avoid unexpected IFR 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.

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