20070722016269A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-3 · Gulf Of Mexico, US · July 22, 2007

Date: July 22, 2007 · 14:50 local
Place: Gulf Of Mexico, US
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: ALGA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N330P
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW07LA169
Reported as: Bell 206L3
Reported engine: Allison 250C30P
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,236 total78 in this make and model73 in the last 90 days

N330PRegistration cancelled Sep 24, 2013 · Bell 206L-3S/N 51295 · Built 1989 Airframe modelBell 206L-3 Engine modelAllison 250-C30 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) In accordance with privacy data omitted, the pilot of aircraft N330P; during the takeoff phase from HI-138, an uncommanded left yaw occurred accompanied by a loss in altitude while still over the heli-deck. Pilot and passenger statements indicate that the right skid struck a heli-deck mounted object (solar panel) in the take-off path of the aircraft, the aircraft then fell and landed in the water and rolled over to the left until inverted. The emergency floats were not deployed and the aircraft sank in 47 feet of water. The aircraft occupants escaped with minor injuries and were released from the hospital Sunday night. The pilot's statements indicates one passenger was seated in the left front seat, and the other in the right rear, forward facing seat. The aircraft was recovered and inspected. The fuel and pneumatic systems/components were analyzed and bench checked and found functional. The engine was torn down with no obvious anomalies noted.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, THE PILOT OF AIRCRAFT N330P; DURING THE TAKEOFF PHASE FROM HI-138, AN UNCOMMANDED LEFT YAW OCCURRED ACCOMPANIED BY A LOSS IN ALTITUDE WHILE STILL OVER THE HELI-DECK. PILOT AND PASSENGER STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT THE RIGHT SKID STRUCK A HELI-DECK MOUNTED OBJECT (SOLAR PANEL) IN THE TAKE-OFF PATH OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT THEN FELL AND LANDED IN THE WATER AND ROLLED OVER TO THE LEFT UNTIL INVERTED. THE EMERGENCY FLOATS WERE NOT DEPLOYED AND THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN 47 FEET OF WATER. THE AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES AND WERE RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL SUNDAY NIGHT. THE PILOT'S STATEMENTS INDICATES ONE PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, AND THE OTHER IN THE RIGHT REAR, FORWARD FACING SEAT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AND INSPECTED. THE FUEL AND PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS/COMPONENTS WERE ANALYZED AND BENCH CHECKED AND FOUND FUNCTIONAL. THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN WITH NO OBVIOUS ANOMALIES NOTED.

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 DFW07LA169Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHigh Island 138The loss of control as result of the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM during takeoff.Jul 22, 2007 · Destroyed

Other reports on N330P · 1

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

Incident 20050817023009IPwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft · Gulf Of Mexico, TX(-23) Helicopter vertical fin struck heliport safety fence during flare to land on an offshore oil platform located in mustang island, block A111, Gulf Of Mexico. Nearest city/state rockport, TX.Aug 17, 2005 · Substantial damage