# Accident 19990810011709A: Bolkms BO105S, Gulf Of Mexico, August 10, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 10, 1999, 14:30 local time - Place: Gulf Of Mexico - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: ALGA - Aircraft: N2785R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2785R-2001-08-23) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105S (registry code 5626006, https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm-bo-105s) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOLKMS BO105S - People aboard: 3 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA215) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990810011709A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AIR LOGISTICS AIR TAXI ( MESSERSCHMITT-BOELKOW-BLOHM BO-105S HELICOPTER) WAS RUNNING UP ITS ENGINE ON A HELIDECK IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WHEN THE ACFT TAIL SPUN TO THE RIGHT, AND THE TAIL BOOM STRUCK AN UNOCCUPIED ACFT, N367AL, A BELL 206 HELICOPTER, N367AL WAS PUSHED INTO THE WATER, N2785R SPUN AROUND A FEW TIMES AND CAME TO REST IN THE SAFETY NET, ONE PASSENGER HAS UNKNOWN INJURIES, NO OTHER INJURIES, WERE REPORTED, THE ACFT DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN, AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, VERMILLION 250 HELIDECK. (FROM .19) ON AUGUST 10, 1999, AT 1430 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A MESSERSCHMITT-BOELKOW-BLOHM BO-105S HELICOPTER, N2785R, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A PARKED HELICOPTER AT VERMILLION 250, A HELIPAD ON AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE INSTRUMENT RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY AIR LOGISTICS LLC., OF NEW IBERIA, LA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 135 BUSINESS FLIGHT AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT WA ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER WAS POS ITIONED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE HELIPAD ON A WESTERLY HEADING, AND WAS PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF. AN UNMANNED BELL 206 HELICOPTER WAS PARKED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE SAME HELIPAD. HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLES TO THE "FULL OPEN" POSITION FOR TAKEOFF. THE PILOT REACHED TO ADJUST THE VOLUME OF THE RADIOS WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN "SPINNING TO THE LEFT". THE COLLECTIVE WAS IN THE "DOWN" POSITION (NOT LOCKED) AND THE ANTI-TORQUE PEDALS WERE IN THE "NEUTRAL" POSITION WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED "RIGHT PEDAL" IN ATTEMPTS TO TERMINATE THE SPINNING. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE PARKED BELL 206 AND COMPLETED ONE 360 DEGREE REVOLUTION. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SPIN TO THE LEFT AND CONTACTED THE BELL 206 A SECOND TIME; CONSEQUENTLY, THE BELL 206 DEPARTED THE PLATFORM AND FELL INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE HELICOPTER COMPLETED A SECOND REVOLUTION BEFORE COMING TO REST UPRIGHT, IN THE "SAFETY WIRE" AT THE EDGE OF THE PLATFORM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WINDS WER E FROM THE SOUTH, SOUTHWEST AT 30 KNOTS. THE PILOT AND TWO MECHANICS REPORTED THAT THE TAILBOOM WAS BENT. THEY ADDED THAT ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE WAS D ESTROYED AND THAT THE REMAINING THREE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE FRACTURED APPROX. 3 FEET INBOARD FROM THE BLADE TIP. (-23) AFTER ENGINE SPOOLED UP TO 100% RPM, THE A/C SPUN TO THE LEFT TWO TURNS. A SECOND UNOCCUPIED HELICOPTER WAS STRUCK AND PUSHED OVERBOARD THE OFFSHORE PLATFORM. THE SECOND A/C WAS UNRECOVERABLE AND CONSIDERED DESTROYED. THE BO-105 CAME TO REST PARTIALLY OFF THE PLATFORM IN THE SAFETY NETTING ANDSUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW99LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA215), Aug 10, 1999: Mbb BO-105S (N2785R), Vermilion 250, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the helicopter while attempting to takeoff. A factor was the high wind condition. ## Other reports on N2785R (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19920908045389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920908045389I), Sep 8, 1992: Bolkms BO105S (N2785R), Patterson, LA. Hydraulic system warning light on. Had control problem. Returned. Found broken wire in electrical cannon plug. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.