What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19)On November 15, 1998, approximately 0945 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N21466, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff from an oil platform, Matagorda 713, 35 miles southeast of rockport, Texas. The commerical pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by industrial helicopters inc., of lafayette, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the title 14 CFR part 91 positioning flight for which no flight plan was filed. According to the operator, the pilot tied the helicopter to the platform due to prevailing 20 to 25 knot wind conditions. Later, when the pilot decided to fly to another platform, he tried to takeoff while still tied down to the platform. Subsequently, the helicopter impacted the platform. Examination of the aircraft by industrial helicopter personnel revealed that the helicopter sustained structural damage. The mast was broken off and part of the tail boom was chopped off during the accident sequence. (.4) during takeoff from an offshore oil platform, the helicopter impacted the platform. After the accident, it was confirmed that the helicopter's front two skid tie down straps were not removed during preflight. (-23) 8020-23 same as .19.
As the FAA filed it
(.19)ON NOVEMBER 15, 1998, APPROXIMATELY 0945 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A BELL 206B HELICOPTER, N21466, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN OIL PLATFORM, MATAGORDA 713, 35 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ROCKPORT, TEXAS. THE COMMERICAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY INDUSTRIAL HELICOPTERS INC., OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 POSITIONING FLIGHT FOR WHICH NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE PILOT TIED THE HELICOPTER TO THE PLATFORM DUE TO PREVAILING 20 TO 25 KNOT WIND CONDITIONS. LATER, WHEN THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY TO ANOTHER PLATFORM, HE TRIED TO TAKEOFF WHILE STILL TIED DOWN TO THE PLATFORM. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE PLATFORM. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY INDUSTRIAL HELICOPTER PERSONNEL REVEALED THAT THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE MAST WAS BROKEN OFF AND PART OF THE TAIL BOOM WAS CHOPPED OFF DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. (.4) DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN OFFSHORE OIL PLATFORM, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE PLATFORM. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE HELICOPTER'S FRONT TWO SKID TIE DOWN STRAPS WERE NOT REMOVED DURING PREFLIGHT. (-23) 8020-23 SAME AS .19.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.