20041217033439A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 407 · Gulf Of Mexico, US · December 17, 2004

Date: December 17, 2004 · 12:00 local
Place: Gulf Of Mexico, US
Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: A05A
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N976AA
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW05FA040
Reported as: Bell 407
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,462 total435 in this make and model251 in the last 90 days

N976AARegistration cancelled Jan 17, 2018 · Bell 407S/N 53169 · Built 1997 Airframe modelBell 407 Engine modelAllison 250-C47 seriesTurbo-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 approached platform SS130E from east. Circled due to flat grating obstacle on sw end of platform. Circled around to the north turning to approach heading southeast with 25-30 knot wind from northeast. Pilot concerned with large obstacle ahead on south side of platform. Watching rotor disc in relation to higher obstacle ahead. Asked passenger were skids on platform on the left side with response of half off. Passenger stated it's too close lets go and pilot proceeded to abandon. Loud pop sound and aircraft hig deck, spun, and fell off into the Gulf. Investigation showed main rotor impact on obstacle.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT APPROACHED PLATFORM SS130E FROM EAST. CIRCLED DUE TO FLAT GRATING OBSTACLE ON SW END OF PLATFORM. CIRCLED AROUND TO THE NORTH TURNING TO APPROACH HEADING SOUTHEAST WITH 25-30 KNOT WIND FROM NORTHEAST. PILOT CONCERNED WITH LARGE OBSTACLE AHEAD ON SOUTH SIDE OF PLATFORM. WATCHING ROTOR DISC IN RELATION TO HIGHER OBSTACLE AHEAD. ASKED PASSENGER WERE SKIDS ON PLATFORM ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH RESPONSE OF HALF OFF. PASSENGER STATED IT'S TOO CLOSE LETS GO AND PILOT PROCEEDED TO ABANDON. LOUD POP SOUND AND AIRCRAFT HIG DECK, SPUN, AND FELL OFF INTO THE GULF. INVESTIGATION SHOWED MAIN ROTOR IMPACT ON OBSTACLE.

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 DFW05FA040Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportShip Shoal 130EThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a stationary object while maneuvering for landing. Contributing factors were the inadequate facilities available for landing, the pilot's lack of information regarding the landing area, and the operational status…Dec 17, 2004 · Destroyed