Bell 206B N51DC

Summary

On 27 January 1984 at about 20:20 local time, a Bell 206B registered N51DC was involved in an accident near Stuart, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

27 January 1984 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Stuart, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N51DC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stuart → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA84FA067

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT 100 TO 150 FT ABOVE THE WATER & ABOUT 100 YDS OFFSHORE. THEY OBSERVED & HEARD NOTHING UNUSUAL, EXCEPT THEY SAID THE HELICOPTER BEGAN DESCENDING UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE WATER. THE REAR DOORS HAD BEEN REMOVED FOR THE FLT. BOTH PASSENGERS RELATED THAT A SEAT CUSHION WAS LOOSE AND THE PLT TURNED IN HIS SEAT WITH HIS ARM BEHIND THE SEAT & WAS TRYING TO SECURE THE CUSHION WHEN THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY DESCENDED INTO THE WATER. NEITHER PASSENGER NOTICED ANYTHING UNUSUAL IN THE OPERATION OF THE HELICOPTER BEFORE IT CRASHED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.