What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)Aircraft departed offshore platform, hi 368 enroute to intercoastal city (icy) with one passenger on board. At 1612 local, pilot reported to company flight following, slight vibration, was going to make a precautionarylanding on a rig in sight. At 1613 pilot called in a mayday, with severe vibrations, and was going to have to make a water landing. At that time pilo lost power, with no loss on flight controls. Pilot made a successful autorotation to the water. Pilot noted that the rotor brake was inoperative. While waiting for a crew boat to pick them up, the pilot noted fluid leaking down in the area of the hat rack. Aircraft sustained no further damage at this time. Aircraft was secured to crew boat and subsequantly rolled during the night.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)AIRCRAFT DEPARTED OFFSHORE PLATFORM, HI 368 ENROUTE TO INTERCOASTAL CITY (ICY) WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD. AT 1612 LOCAL, PILOT REPORTED TO COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING, SLIGHT VIBRATION, WAS GOING TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARYLANDING ON A RIG IN SIGHT. AT 1613 PILOT CALLED IN A MAYDAY, WITH SEVERE VIBRATIONS, AND WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A WATER LANDING. AT THAT TIME PILO LOST POWER, WITH NO LOSS ON FLIGHT CONTROLS. PILOT MADE A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION TO THE WATER. PILOT NOTED THAT THE ROTOR BRAKE WAS INOPERATIVE. WHILE WAITING FOR A CREW BOAT TO PICK THEM UP, THE PILOT NOTED FLUID LEAKING DOWN IN THE AREA OF THE HAT RACK. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED NO FURTHER DAMAGE AT THIS TIME. AIRCRAFT WAS SECURED TO CREW BOAT AND SUBSEQUANTLY ROLLED DURING THE NIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.