20030306008599A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Snias AS350B2 · Venice, LA · March 6, 2003

Date: March 6, 2003 · 07:00 local
Place: Venice, LA
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N945PT
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW03LA106
Reported as: Snias AS350B2
People aboard: 5
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 16,000 total850 in this make and model80 in the last 90 days

N945PTRegistration cancelled Jul 13, 2009 · Eurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUILS/N 2848 · Built 1995 Airframe modelEurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUIL Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1SERTurbo-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.

(-23) Pilot departed new for a flight to an oil platform. Obtained a special clearance due to the weather being below VMC. Proceeded VFR toward the platform. The weather visibility deteriorated. The pilot stated that he began to make a 180 degree turn and descent to obtain contact with the water. During the low level turn and descent in very limited visibility, the pilot stated that he felt his tail rotor contact the water.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED NEW FOR A FLIGHT TO AN OIL PLATFORM. OBTAINED A SPECIAL CLEARANCE DUE TO THE WEATHER BEING BELOW VMC. PROCEEDED VFR TOWARD THE PLATFORM. THE WEATHER VISIBILITY DETERIORATED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BEGAN TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND DESCENT TO OBTAIN CONTACT WITH THE WATER. DURING THE LOW LEVEL TURN AND DESCENT IN VERY LIMITED VISIBILITY, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FELT HIS TAIL ROTOR CONTACT THE WATER.

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 FTW03LA106Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVenice, LAThe pilot's inability to maintain directional control following a loss of tail rotor drive. A contributing factor was the fog.Mar 6, 2003 · Destroyed