# Accident 20030708018589A: Urocop EC120B, Morgan City, LA, July 8, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 2003, 11:47 local time
- Place: Morgan City, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: TXEA
- Location: 28.9175° N, 91.3003° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9175&lon=-91.3003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N162TA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N162TA-2004-07-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter COLIBRI EC 120B (registry code 8680985, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-colibri-ec-120b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-2F (registry code 60010, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UROCOP EC120B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,700 total, 300 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA186) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030708018589A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 8, 2003, AT 1147 CDT, DURING A HOVERING MANUEVER, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF N162TA, A EUROCOPTER MODEL EC-120-B, PILOTED BY MR. PATRICK CHARLES MCHUGH, STRUCK THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIE DOWN FIXTURE OF A STATIONARY AS-350-BA, N147BH. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIPS OF N162TA WERE SHATTERED BY THE IMPACT. THE COMMERCIALLY RATED PILOT EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO THE WATERS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO, ADJACENT TO THE OIL PLATFORM, THERE THE HELICOPTER WAS SHUTDOWN USING FLIGHT MANUAL NORMAL PROCEDURES. THE PILOT AN HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED AND EXITED THE HELICOPTER INTO AN INFLATABLE RAFT. THE REAR TWO COMPARTMENTS OF THE HELICOPTERS LEFT EMERGENCY FLOTATION DEVICE WAS BREACHED DURING THIS MANEUVER CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL INVERTED.

## 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 FTW03LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA186), Jul 8, 2003: Eurocopter EC120B (N162TA), Ship Shoal 80, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a parked/stationary aircraft.

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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