On March 12, 1984, a Bell 206L-1 (registration N1076N) was involved in an aviation accident near W Camrn Blk 624. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The helicopter was blown off the platform and into the water by a gust of wind while the engine was being started. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter was swept off an offshore platform by a sudden wind gust while the engine was being started, crashing into the water below as passengers and crew attempted to depart before a squall line arrived.
What happened
The pilot and several passengers boarded a helicopter with the intention of departing an offshore oil rig prior to the arrival of a severe weather system. As the aircraft's engine was in the process of being started, a sudden gust of wind struck the platform. The force of the wind pushed the unsecured helicopter off the edge of the deck. The aircraft fell approximately 100 feet and impacted the sea surface in a tail-first attitude.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical status of the aircraft at the time of the incident. No mechanical failure or pilot error was identified as the primary cause of the accident. The sequence of events was driven entirely by external environmental forces acting upon the aircraft while it was stationary on the platform.
Probable cause
The helicopter was blown off the platform and into the water by a gust of wind while the engine was being started.
What happened in the 12 Mar 1984 Bell 206L-1 accident near W Camrn Blk 624?
A helicopter was swept off an offshore platform by a sudden wind gust while the engine was being started, crashing into the water below as passengers and crew attempted to depart before a squall line arrived.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 12 Mar 1984 involved a Bell 206L-1, registration N1076N, at W Camrn Blk 624.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The helicopter was blown off the platform and into the water by a gust of wind while the engine was being started.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…