Bell 206B-3 N3182V

Summary

On 16 October 1986 at about 17:15 local time, a Bell 206B-3 registered N3182V, operated by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Lompoc, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

16 October 1986 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lompoc, California, United States

Coordinates

34.6006, -120.3905

Aircraft

Bell 206B-3

Registration

N3182V

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Goleta

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX87FA017

2 people 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

THE HELIPAD DECK AT THE STERN OF THE BARGE WAS COVERED WITH A LOOSELY SECURED ROPE NET AND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER LIFTED UP TO A HOVER THE NET CAME UP 'CAUGHT ON THE REAR OF THE LEFT SKID.' THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO HOVER FOR A MOMENT WITH THE NET TANGLED IN THE LEFT SKID, THEN THE NET 'SUDDENLY LET GO.' THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO 'PITCH NOSE UP' AND BANK VIOLENTLY LEFT INTO A CRANE AND A DAVIT BEFORE IT FELL OVERBOARD AND SANK. ACCORDING TO A SURVIVING PASSENGER SEATED NEXT TO THE PILOT, AFTER THE HELICOPTER HOVERED FOR A MOMENT THE PILOT LEANED OVER AND ASKED 'ARE WE HUNG UP' JUST BEFORE THE HELICOPTER BANKED LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE STRUCTURES. BOTH OF THE HELICOPTER SKIDS AND OTHER WRECKAGE WAS FOUND CAUGHT ON THE DAVIT. EXAMINATION OF THE SKIDS REVEALED STRANDS OF THE ROPE MATERIAL CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE BOLT HEAD AND SKID FLANGE FOR THE LEFT GROUND HANDLING BOLT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.