# Accident 20110324005029A: Bell 206L-3, Boothville, LA, March 24, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2011, 16:55 local time
- Place: Boothville, LA
- Airport: Main Pass 61a
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Location: 30.1922° N, 88.6450° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1922&lon=-88.6450&mi=10
- Aircraft: N32041, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32041-2017-12-05) (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 206L-3
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C30P
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,329 total, 326 in this make and model, 98 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA252) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110324005029A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 2155 ZULU, N32041 TOOK OFF FROM AN OIL PLATFORM LOCATED AT MAIN PASS 61A.  APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME AS THE AIRCRAFT'S TAKE OFF, THE OIL PLATFORM WAS VENTING GAS FROM THE PLATFORM'S FLARE BOOM.  THE FLARE BOOM POINTS IN A EASTERLY DIRECTION.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS POINTED WITH THE NOSE BETWEEN THE COMPRESSORS AND THE FLARE BOOM.  THE COMPRESSORS WERE SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OF THE AIRCRFT'S NOSE AND THE FLARE BOOM WAS SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FACING INTO THE WIND.   SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AND AFTER CLEARING THE PLATFORM, N32041 PROCEEDED INTO A NORTH EASTERY DIRECTION AND EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE EVENT CONSISTENT WITH A COMPRESSOR STALL. THE PILOT AND BOTH PASSENGERS ON BOARD TESTIFIED TO HEARING A LOUD BANG AND THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN TO DESCEND.  THE PILOT THEN ENTERED INTO AUTOROTATION AND ACTIVATED THE FLOATS.  DURING THE EVENT, THE PILOT RECALLS LOOKING AT WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE THE COCKPIT THEN LOOKING OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING IN A MORE WESTERLY DIRECTION.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN WENT INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO WHERE WITHIN A FEW SECONDS AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WATER THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT.  THE FLOATS DEPLOYED NORMALLY.  HOWEVER, ONCE THE PILOT WAS OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT HE TRIED TO PULL BOTH LEVERS FOR THE LIFE RAFTS.  THE LIFE RAFTS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE WATER.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.  APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER THE N30241 ENTERED THE WATER; A RESCUE BOAT ARRIVED ON SEEN.  THE PILOT AND BOTH PASSENGERS ENTERED THE BOAT UNASSISTED.

## 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 CEN11LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA252), Mar 24, 2011: Bell 206L-3 (N32041), (Gulf of Mexico), substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to an engine compressor stall as a result of ingesting methane gas during takeoff.

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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