Bell 206L-1 N39HC

Summary

On 27 January 1991 at about 20:36 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N39HC, operated by Evergreen Equity, Inc, was involved in an accident near S Tim Blk 198. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 January 1991 at 20:36

Classification

Accident

Location

S Tim Blk 198

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N39HC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Evergreen Equity, Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

S Tim Blk 198 → Patterson

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW91FA035

2 people died.

FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), THE HELICOPER CRASHED AT SEA (GULF OF MEXICO) IN AN AREA WITH A LOW CEILING, RAIN, AND THUNDERSTORMS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED AN OFF-SHORE OIL PLATFORM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, EN ROUTE TO AN ON-SHORE LOCATION. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING, WHICH INFORMED HIM OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS IN THE AREA. HE DID NOT MAKE A MANDATORY 15 MINUTE FLIGHT FOLLOWING CONTACT AFTER DEPARTURE & WAS PRESUMED TO BE MISSING. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT IT WAS HAMPERED BY INCLEMENT WEATHER. NEITHER THE MAIN WRECKAGE NOR THE OCCUPANTS WERE FOUND. THE LOWER FLOORING OF THE CABIN SECTION, A SKID, AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIP WERE FOUND FLOATING IN THE WATER & WERE RECOVERED. AN EXAM OF THOSE ITEMS REVEALED SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH A HIGH SPEED IMPACT WITH THE WATER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.