What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While on final approach to an offshore platform the pilot reported that he was experiencing a collective pitch control malfunction. The helicopter pilot reported that the collective pitch control movement had no effect. With the torque indication stuck at 45%, the pilot initiated a slow climb to 1000 feet at 60 knots, and decided to proceed to Patterson, LA airport where a run on landing was successfully executed without any damage to the aircraft or injuries to the passenger or pilot. Initial investigation revealed that the collective bolt cotter pin was missing and had not been installed during maintenance or inspection prior to flight.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING A COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL MALFUNCTION. THE HELICOPTER PILOT REPORTED THAT THE COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL MOVEMENT HAD NO EFFECT. WITH THE TORQUE INDICATION STUCK AT 45%, THE PILOT INITIATED A SLOW CLIMB TO 1000 FEET AT 60 KNOTS, AND DECIDED TO PROCEED TO PATTERSON, LA AIRPORT WHERE A RUN ON LANDING WAS SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT OR INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER OR PILOT. INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE COLLECTIVE BOLT COTTER PIN WAS MISSING AND HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED DURING MAINTENANCE OR INSPECTION PRIOR TO FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.