What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On departure, high hover, disappeare in fog, hit ground, over fence into field. (-23) on September 22, 1997, at 0530 central daylight time, a Sikorsky S-76-A helicopter, N517AL, registered to and operated by offshore logistics, inc., impacted the ground after takeoff at Harry p. Williams memorial airport (ptn). The ptn AWOS reported 500 scattered and one-half mile visibility, adeaquate helicopter visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was on file. Company flight following procedures had not been initiated. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the two airline transport pilot-rated pilots sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at the offshore logistics' facility on the airport at 0525, September 22, 1997.
As the FAA filed it
ON DEPARTURE, HIGH HOVER, DISAPPEARE IN FOG, HIT GROUND, OVER FENCE INTO FIELD. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1997, AT 0530 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A SIKORSKY S-76-A HELICOPTER, N517AL, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY OFFSHORE LOGISTICS, INC., IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER TAKEOFF AT HARRY P. WILLIAMS MEMORIAL AIRPORT (PTN). THE PTN AWOS REPORTED 500 SCATTERED AND ONE-HALF MILE VISIBILITY, ADEAQUATE HELICOPTER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES HAD NOT BEEN INITIATED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE TWO AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT-RATED PILOTS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE OFFSHORE LOGISTICS' FACILITY ON THE AIRPORT AT 0525, SEPTEMBER 22, 1997.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.