20221229018769A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 407 · Galliano, LA · December 29, 2022

Date: December 29, 2022 · 08:34 local
Place: Galliano, LA
Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: YTRA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N595RL
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN23FA071
Reported as: Bell 407
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 4
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,668 total154 in this make and model137 in the last 90 days

N595RLRegistration cancelled Dec 15, 2023 · Bell 407S/N 53595 · Built 2004 Airframe modelBell 407 Engine modelRolls-Royce 250-C47BTurbo-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.

Aircraft departing helideck WD106, enroute back to Galliano, crashed back on helideck during take-off. Aircraft subsequently broke apart and fell into the gulf; no surviors found. Helicopter found with passengers and pilot and brought to area in baton rouge for inspection by NTSB. An inspection of the helideck shows damage to a pad light, indications of both tail and main rotor blades strikes on the deck.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT DEPARTING HELIDECK WD106, ENROUTE BACK TO GALLIANO, CRASHED BACK ON HELIDECK DURING TAKE-OFF. AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY BROKE APART AND FELL INTO THE GULF; NO SURVIORS FOUND. HELICOPTER FOUND WITH PASSENGERS AND PILOT AND BROUGHT TO AREA IN BATON ROUGE FOR INSPECTION BY NTSB. AN INSPECTION OF THE HELIDECK SHOWS DAMAGE TO A PAD LIGHT, INDICATIONS OF BOTH TAIL AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKES ON THE DECK.

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 CEN23FA071Accident · 4 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGalliano, LAThe pilot’s failure to ensure the helicopter was clear of obstacles before takeoff from the helideck, which resulted in the helicopter’s right landing skid pivoting about a helideck perimeter light during takeoff and a dynamic rollover. Additionally, the…Dec 29, 2022 · Substantial damage