# Incident 20060318004309I: Bell 206L3, Intercoastal Ci, LA, March 18, 2006

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 18, 2006, 09:55 local time
- Place: Intercoastal Ci, LA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Aircraft: N4180F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4180F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206L-3 (registry code 1182108, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,851 total, 61 in this make and model, 61 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060318004309I

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT LANDED ON VE-245 (PETROLEUM PLATFORM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO) TO PICK UP FUEL. HE PARKED HIS A/C FACING NORTH AND ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE LANDING PLATFORM (EAST SIDE OF THE RED LINE). AFTER REFUELING AND STARTING THE A/C, HE PICKED THE A/C UP INTO A HOVER AND MADE A RIGHT PEDAL TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE WIND PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. (WINDS WERE REPORTED EAST, SOUTHEAST AT 25 KNOTS). A GUST OF WIND AND/OR INCREASED WIND TURBULENCE ACROSS THE LANDING PLATFORM SUDDENLY CAUSED THE NOSE TO RISE AND THE AIRCRAFT MOVED BACKWARD ACROSS THE RED LINE RESULTING IN THE TAILROTOR BLADES STRIKING A PERMANENTLY MOUNTED AIR VENT STRUCTURE NEXT TO THE FUEL HOSE REEL. THE PILOT THEN MADE AN IMMEDIATE LANDING, SHUTDOWN THE AIRCRAFT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED PHI TO ADVISE OF THE OCCURRENCE.

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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