20191207021249A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 407 · Grand Isle, LA · December 7, 2019

Date: December 7, 2019 · 09:30 local
Place: Grand Isle, LA
Airport: Grand Isla
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: PBVA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N79LP
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN20FA035
Reported as: Bell 407
Reported engine: Allison 250-C47
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,690 total

N79LPRegistration cancelled Jan 30, 2021 · Bell 407S/N 53027 · Built 1996 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.

December 7, 2019. Helicopter made a 10 minute out call to offshore platform that was the destination. Helicopter never made it to the platform. Operator made phone calls to locate helicopter. All phone calls were no helicopter not here. Operator checked other flight following locations, but aircraft was at last known location by coordinates, but was not at that platform offshore. Operator notified coast guard and coast guard lunched search and rescue. December 8, 2019 coast guard located some debris.

As the FAA filed it

DECEMBER 7, 2019. HELICOPTER MADE A 10 MINUTE OUT CALL TO OFFSHORE PLATFORM THAT WAS THE DESTINATION. HELICOPTER NEVER MADE IT TO THE PLATFORM. OPERATOR MADE PHONE CALLS TO LOCATE HELICOPTER. ALL PHONE CALLS WERE NO HELICOPTER NOT HERE. OPERATOR CHECKED OTHER FLIGHT FOLLOWING LOCATIONS, BUT AIRCRAFT WAS AT LAST KNOWN LOCATION BY COORDINATES, BUT WAS NOT AT THAT PLATFORM OFFSHORE. OPERATOR NOTIFIED COAST GUARD AND COAST GUARD LUNCHED SEARCH AND RESCUE. DECEMBER 8, 2019 COAST GUARD LOCATED SOME DEBRIS.

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 CEN20FA035Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico)A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine’s Nos. 3 and 4 bearings and the power turbine pinion gear, and subsequent loss of main rotor rpm, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with the water.Dec 7, 2019 · Destroyed