Bell B206LI N882BT

Summary

On 12 September 1990 at about 12:10 local time, a Bell B206LI registered N882BT, operated by Industrial Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Port O'connor, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 September 1990 at 12:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Port O'connor, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.4408, -96.4908

Aircraft

Bell B206LI

Registration

N882BT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Industrial Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Mi 664

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

FTW90FA178

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO THE KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE WEATHER/LIGHT CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED AT DAWN FOR A VFR FLIGHT FROM A COASTAL BASE EN ROUTE TO AN OFFSHORE OIL PLATFORM DURING IMC. THE CEILING WAS LOW AND RAIN SHOWERS WERE PASSING THROUGH THE AREA. AFTER THE HELICOPTER FLEW PAST THE SHORELINE IT PENETRATED A HEAVY RAIN SHOWER. THE PILOT DESCENDED THE HELICOPTER AND ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH A LIGHT ON AN OIL PLATFORM LOCATED IN HIS LINE OF SIGHT. THE RIGHT SKID DIPPED INTO THE WATER AND THE HELICOPTER TUMBLED FORWARD AND IMPACTED THE WATER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT IT WAS DARK DURING THE DEPARTURE WITH THE LIGHT ON THE RIG THE ONLY THING VISIBLE. HE REMEMBERED THE PILOT FLYING THE HELICOPTER INTO THE WATER WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR HORNS ACTIVATED PRIOR TO IMPACT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.