20030707021389A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Snias AS350B · July 7, 2003

Date: July 7, 2003 · 18:09 local
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: TXEA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N147BH
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW03LA178
Reported as: Snias AS350B
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 8,985 total1,505 in this make and model251 in the last 90 days

N147BHRegistration cancelled May 24, 2013 · Aerospatiale AS350BS/N 1273 · Built 1980 Airframe modelAerospatiale AS350B 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) After terminating in a hover configuration over the platform the pilot heard a loud noise. This initial loud noise was followed by an uncontrolled spin to the left. The pilot then regained control of the rotorcraft at aproximately 4 to 5 feet above the platform and landed the helicopter on the platform. Post accident investigation revealed damage to the platform catwalk, partial separation of the helicopter tailboom approximately 18 inches forward of the tail rotor hub and separation of a tail rotor blade. The damage is consistent with tail rotor contact with the catwalk structure. Aircraft was substantially damaged. No injuries to pilot or passengers.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AFTER TERMINATING IN A HOVER CONFIGURATION OVER THE PLATFORM THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THIS INITIAL LOUD NOISE WAS FOLLOWED BY AN UNCONTROLLED SPIN TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT THEN REGAINED CONTROL OF THE ROTORCRAFT AT APROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 FEET ABOVE THE PLATFORM AND LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON THE PLATFORM. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE PLATFORM CATWALK, PARTIAL SEPARATION OF THE HELICOPTER TAILBOOM APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR HUB AND SEPARATION OF A TAIL ROTOR BLADE. THE DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH TAIL ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE CATWALK STRUCTURE. AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGERS.

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 FTW03LA178Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportShip Shoal 80The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the safety fence while landing on an off-shore helipad.Jul 7, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N147BH · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20070708021999IOther Ground Ops · Gulf Of Mexico, US(-23) After a normal approach and landing, collective was lowered to flat pitch when a severe vertical vibration occurred. Emergency shut down procedures were employed. After exiting the helicopter found star flex had separated at blue blade and tailboom had…Jul 8, 2007 · Substantial damage Incident 20041106028729IPractice Training Manuevers · Houston, TX(-23) During a practice hydraulics off approach to landing, with the trainee at the controls, the aircraft began to turn left just prior to touchdown. The trainor took control of the aircraft and directed the trainee to turn on the hydraulics. The trainee…Nov 6, 2004 · Minor damage