# Accident 20130813022319A: Bell 407, Patterson, LA, August 13, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2013, 13:10 local time
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: PBVA
- Location: 28.5333° N, 90.9167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5333&lon=-90.9167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53LP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53LP-2014-06-03) (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
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C47
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,136 total, 140 in this make and model, 128 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13FA491](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA491) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130813022319A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT TO A 10 FOOT HOVER ON THE OIL RIG PLATFORM. PILOT PICKED HIS DIRECTION FOR DEPARTURE. AIRCRAFT STARTED FORWARD, NOSE ATTITUDE DOWN. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS HALF OFF THE PLATFORM A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DESCEND. PILOT POPPED THE FLOATS AND TRIED TO AUTO ROTATE INTO THE WATER. AIRCRAFT HIT FLAT INTO THE WATER, BLADE STRUCK THE WATER CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE PULLED OUT WITH THE ROOF OF THE HELICOPTER. WITH TRANSMISSION NOT BEING SECURED, THUS CAUSING THE BLADES STRIKING FUSELAGE AND ENGINE.

## 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 CEN13FA491](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA491), Aug 13, 2013: Bell 407 (N53LP), Ship Shoal 208H (Gulf of Mexico), substantial damage. Probable cause: The ingestion of vented methane gas into the helicopter’s engine during takeoff, which caused an engine compressor surge that led to a total loss of engine power.

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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