# Accident 20000320023519A: Bell 206B, Brazos 542, March 20, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 20, 2000, 15:24 local time - Place: Brazos 542 - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Power On Descent (Rotorcraft) - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: VBVA - Aircraft: N5002E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5002E-2000-10-04) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 2,643 total, 1,295 in this make and model, 108 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW00LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA100) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000320023519A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.4)THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE HELICOPTER TO LAND ON AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM. HE INITIALLY APPROACHED THE PLATFORM FROM THE NORTH, HEADING INTO THE WIND, WHICH WAS FROM THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 20-25 KNOTS. THE PILOT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN TO CIRCLE CLOCKWISE AROUND THE PLATFORM AT 300 TO 400 FEET AGL AND 70 TO 80 MPH INDICATED AIRSPEED. APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE WAY AROUND THE PLATFORM, THE HELICOPTER 'BEGAN TO SPIN' TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SPIN, HOWEVER, THERE WAS 'NO TAIL ROTOR RESPONSE.' THE PILOT 'MADE AN EFFORT TO TRY TO COME OUT OF [THE SPIN] BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE AND DROPPING THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT.' CONTROL INPUTS HAD NO EFFECT ON STOPPING THE SPIN, AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE WATER. THERE WERE NO REPORTED ANOMALIES TO THE TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. IN FEBRUARY 1995, THE FAA ISSUED AN ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC 90-95) CONCERNING UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW IN HELICOPTERS, OR LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE). THE AC ADVISES PILOTS LTE MAY OCCUR IN RIGHT TURNS AT LOW AIRSPEEDS, AND THAT CORRECT, TIMELY RESPONSE IS CRITICAL TO PREVENT A LOSS OF CONTROL. (.19)ON MARCH 20, 2000, AT 1524 CST, A BELL B206 HELICOPTER, N5002E, IMPATCHED GULF OF MEXICO WATERS WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR BRAZOS 542 OFFSHORE PLATFORM. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY HORIZON HELICOPTERS, INC., AT ANGLETON, TEXAS, UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 135. THE COMMERICAL PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WITH WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 30 KNOTS, PREVAILED FOR THE ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE BRAZOS 341 OFFSHORE PLATFORM. THE OPERATOR'S CHIEF PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PILOT OF THE HELICOPTER FLEW AROUND THE PLATFORM FOR A WEATHER DETERMINATION IN REFERNENCE TO THE LANDING. MAXIMUM WIND UNDER THE COMPANY OPERATION PROCUEDURES FOR STARTUP, TAKEOFF, AND LANDINGS IS 30 KNOTS. WHEN THE PILOT TURNED THE HELICOPTER DOWNWIND, TAILROTOR CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE HELICOPTER STRCUK THE WATER. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED BY PERSONNEL AT THE OFFSHORE PLATFORM. (-23)ON MARCH 20, 2000, AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 CST, A BELL HELICOPTER, N5002E, MODEL 206-B, IMPACTED THE WATER NEAR OFFSHORE PLATFORM, BRAZOS 542, GULF OF MEXICO. THE HELICOPTER OWNED BY GM LEASING CO. LLC WAS BEING OPERATED BY HORIZON HELICOPTERS, INC. UNDER 14 CFR CODE OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS PART 135. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AHD HIS TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE BRAZOS 341 OFF SHORE PLATFORM, GULF OF MEXICO. ## 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 FTW00LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA100), Mar 20, 2000: Bell 206B3 (N5002E), Brazos 542, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's right turn maneuver during low speed resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and subsequent loss of control. ## Other reports on N5002E (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19781221021469I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781221021469I), Dec 21, 1978: Bell 206BELL (N5002E), Gulf Of Mexico, LA, Minor damage. Helicopter had complete power loss, autorotated successfully. Engine failure due to clogged oil nozzle. 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.