# Accident 20041217033439A: Bell 407, Gulf Of Mexico, US, December 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2004, 12:00 local time
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico, US
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: A05A
- Location: 28.7333° N, 91.2083° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7333&lon=-91.2083&mi=10
- Aircraft: N976AA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N976AA-2018-01-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C47 series (registry code 03029, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 3,462 total, 435 in this make and model, 251 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW05FA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05FA040) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041217033439A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 DFW05FA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05FA040), Dec 17, 2004: Bell 407 (N976AA), Ship Shoal 130E, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

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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