19990201001249A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-3 · Gulf Of Mexico, LA · February 1, 1999

Date: February 1, 1999 · 10:56 local
Place: Gulf Of Mexico, LA
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: HEEA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6603X
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW99LA077
Reported as: Bell 206L3
Reported engine: Allison 250C30P
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,893 total2,517 in this make and model152 in the last 90 days

N6603XRegistered now · Bell 206L-3S/N 51412 · Built 1990 Airframe modelBell 206L-3 Engine modelAllison 250-C30 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Petroleum helicopters 1990 Bell 206L-3 helicopter tail rotor struck the wind sock on landing, and the rotor sustained substantial damage. No injuries were reported to the pilot/sole occupant. Other circumstances are unknown. (From .4) the helicopter's tail rotor made contact with the offshore platform's windsock (west delta 105B heli-pad) during final approach to landing. The pilot heard a buzzing sound followed by a right yaw. He then executed a hovering autorotation to the platform. Inspection of the windsock support frame showed signs of tail rotor impact damage. (-23)on landing at WD-105B (gom), pilot heard a buzzing sound followed by a right yaw of the aircraft. Pilot executed a hovering auto rotation ot the platform. Upon shutdown, pilot noticed part of the end of one tail rotor blade missing, approximately 2 to 3 inches. Suspect tail rotor contacted the wind sock during approach. Note: found wind sock frame with evidence of tail rotor blade strike on platform.

As the FAA filed it

PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS 1990 BELL 206L-3 HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE WIND SOCK ON LANDING, AND THE ROTOR SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED TO THE PILOT/SOLE OCCUPANT. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (FROM .4) THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE OFFSHORE PLATFORM'S WINDSOCK (WEST DELTA 105B HELI-PAD) DURING FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING. THE PILOT HEARD A BUZZING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT YAW. HE THEN EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO THE PLATFORM. INSPECTION OF THE WINDSOCK SUPPORT FRAME SHOWED SIGNS OF TAIL ROTOR IMPACT DAMAGE. (-23)ON LANDING AT WD-105B (GOM), PILOT HEARD A BUZZING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT YAW OF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTO ROTATION OT THE PLATFORM. UPON SHUTDOWN, PILOT NOTICED PART OF THE END OF ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE MISSING, APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 INCHES. SUSPECT TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE WIND SOCK DURING APPROACH. NOTE: FOUND WIND SOCK FRAME WITH EVIDENCE OF TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRIKE ON PLATFORM.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW99LA077Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWest Delta 105bThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the oil platform's windsock on final approach to landing.Feb 1, 1999 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6603X · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19950907043289IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Venice, LANarrative: on September 7, 1995, at 1005, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N6603X, owned by petroleum helicopters, inc. (phi), experienced a hydraulic failure during a passenger/cargo flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was…Sep 7, 1995