# Accident 20021231036039A: Bell 206L4, December 31, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 2002, 09:30 local time
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Aerial Taxi, Other Helicopter
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ALGA
- Location: 28.2667° N, 94.0500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2667&lon=-94.0500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N177AL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L4
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,587 total, 118 in this make and model, 143 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021231036039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING REPOSITIONING FOR PASSENGER PICK-UP ON OFFSHORE PLATFORM (HI-471). AIRCRAFT PARKED INTO WIND PREVIOUS DAY AND WIND DIRECTION CHANGED 180 DEGREES AFTER NIGHT FRONTAL PASSAGE. PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKE-OFF AND TURNING THE AIRCRAFT 180 DEGREES, HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTED A SECOND TAKE-OFF TO REPOSITION FOR PASSENGER PICK-UP. DURING THIS SECOND TAKE-OFF ATTEMPT, PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN VIBRATING VIOLENTLY, WHEREUPON HE PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN WITH THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO A STOP ALMOST OVER GUARDRAIL AND WITH TAILBOOM BROKEN. THE INVESTIGATION OF THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT INDICATES DAMAGE WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DAMAGE FOUND FOLLOWING A HARD LANDING.

## 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 FTW03LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA072), Dec 31, 2002: Bell 206-L4 (N177AL), High Island 471, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's attempt to takeoff during known adverse weather conditions and failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the gusty and high wind…

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.

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