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Atlas / NTSB / BFO90LA047

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event BFO90LA047

1990-05-20 STEVENSVILLE, Maryland, United States None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE TAXIING ON TURBULENT WATER.

Factual narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE TAXIING ON THE WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY HE ENCOUNTERED A WAVE FROM A PASSING BOAT, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO NOSE DOWN. THE PLT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL WITH CYLIC INPUT; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER NOSED OVER AND SUNK IN THE WATER. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_BFO90LA047.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.