# Accident 20031201033579A: Bell 407, Galveston, TX, December 1, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 1, 2003, 08:20 local time
- Place: Galveston, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Location: 28.0003° N, 93.9189° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0003&lon=-93.9189&mi=10
- Aircraft: N457PH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N457PH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 14,190 total, 844 in this make and model, 173 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA029) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031201033579A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 08:15 THE PILOT DEPARTED GULF PLATFORM HIGH ISLAND 573 IN ROUTE FOR HIGH ISLAND 264. APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MINUTES LATER THE DISPATCHER AT PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS, INC (PHI) BASE RECEIVED A MAY DAY DISTRESS CALL. THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS. THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED IN THE AREA OF HIGH ISLAND 560 IN APPROXIMATELY 240' OF WATER. POST EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, ENGINE AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS SHOWED AN UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE #3 ENGINE TURBINE DISK. POST EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE IF NO INERTIA LEFT IN THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER. CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED TO ALL OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR FLOATS WERE NEVER ACTIVATED. THE TRANSMISSION, SEVOS, FREE WHEELING UNIT AND TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM WERE ALL INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE INTACT OR OPERATIONAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS REQUIREMENTS. THE OPERATOR WILL FILE AN MMIR REPORT AND FORWARD IT TO THEIR CERTIFICATE MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR GENERAL MAINTENANCE MANUAL.

## 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 FTW04FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA029), Dec 1, 2003: Bell 407 (N457PH), High Island 573, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the failure of the 3rd stage turbine wheel and subsequent catastrophic failure of the turbine assembly.

## Other reports on N457PH (1)

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

- [Accident 20170502005009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170502005009A), May 2, 2017: Bell 407 (N457PH), Boothville, LA, Substantial damage. A Bell 407 helicopter was enroute to an offshore location . At approximately three (3) minutes after takeoff on the first flight of the day, the pilot heard a…

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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