20170227007449A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 407 · Chauvin, LA · February 27, 2017

Date: February 27, 2017 · 10:25 local
Place: Chauvin, LA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: IAVA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1371
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN17FA112
Reported as: Bell 407
Reported engine: Allison 250-C47
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,265 total122 in this make and model140 in the last 90 days

N1371Registration cancelled Oct 11, 2017 · Bell 407S/N 53182 · Built 1997 Airframe modelBell 407 Engine modelAllison 250-C47 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.

Westwind helicopters reposition flight, from offshore to base in houma, LA (butler aviation.) Company chdo is houston FSDO.

Aircraft reported overdue via skyconnect after failing to transmit automated position report:

*10:14 - Departed platform message via skyconnect.

*10:24 - Last automated position report via skyconnect:

Lat/lon 29.291/90.521

Altitude 374 ft

Heading 335

Ground speed 148 KTS

*10:26 - Next automated position report due

*10:33 - Overdue message via skyconnect.

Wreckage found by second westwind aircraft @ 1135 LCL in shallow water in lake barre, about 16 NM sse of houma. No movement noted.

Accident aircraft destroyed, lone occupant (pilot) fatal.

All other events unknown at this time.

As the FAA filed it

WESTWIND HELICOPTERS REPOSITION FLIGHT, FROM OFFSHORE TO BASE IN HOUMA, LA (BUTLER AVIATION.) COMPANY CHDO IS HOUSTON FSDO.

AIRCRAFT REPORTED OVERDUE VIA SKYCONNECT AFTER FAILING TO TRANSMIT AUTOMATED POSITION REPORT:

*10:14 - DEPARTED PLATFORM MESSAGE VIA SKYCONNECT.

*10:24 - LAST AUTOMATED POSITION REPORT VIA SKYCONNECT:

LAT/LON 29.291/90.521

ALTITUDE 374 FT

HEADING 335

GROUND SPEED 148 KTS

*10:26 - NEXT AUTOMATED POSITION REPORT DUE

*10:33 - OVERDUE MESSAGE VIA SKYCONNECT.

WRECKAGE FOUND BY SECOND WESTWIND AIRCRAFT @ 1135 LCL IN SHALLOW WATER IN LAKE BARRE, ABOUT 16 NM SSE OF HOUMA. NO MOVEMENT NOTED.

ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DESTROYED, LONE OCCUPANT (PILOT) FATAL.

ALL OTHER EVENTS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

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 CEN17FA112Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportChauvin, LAThe pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude resulting in a collision with water for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.Feb 27, 2017 · Destroyed