# NTSB CEN11CA232: Bell 230, N974RH, Gulf of Mexico, LA, March 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 17, 2011, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Gulf of Mexico, LA - Coordinates: 28.728889, -91.875831 (estimated) - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78570 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78570/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78570 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA232 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the safety skirting during the repositioning landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 230, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1182149), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Bell 230, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=1182149), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 230, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1182149), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was asked to reposition the helicopter on the helideck in an effort to clear a space for a helicopter that was coming in to land. During the repositioning landing, the pilot felt a high frequency vibration and the helicopter began to shudder. The pilot landed and after egressing the helicopter, discovered that a piece of tail rotor skin was lodged in the skirting; the tailrotor had impacted the safety skirting. The helicopter's tailboom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative The pilot was asked to reposition the helicopter on the helideck to make room for a helicopter that was coming in to land. He performed a walk around inspection of the area, and was aware of the location and height of the helideck safety skirting. During the repositioning landing, the pilot felt a high frequency vibration and the helicopter began to shudder. After the accident, a piece of tail rotor skin was found lodged in the skirting. The tailrotor had impacted the skirting. Substantial damage occurred to the helicopter's tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter in reference to the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N974RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N974RH), registered now, S/N 23020, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 230 - Registry model: [Bell 230](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-230) (registry code 1182149) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C30 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (registry code 03015, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 23020 - Airframe hours: 4205 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C30/G2 734 horsepower turbo shaft; ALLISON 250-C30/G2 734 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Republic Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Republic Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 3, 2011 - Departed: 2TE1, Santa Fe, TX - Destination: PVT, Gulf of Mexico, LA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PVT, South Marsh Island #50 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 10,280 total, 1,108 in this make and model, 10,145 as pilot in command, 134 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: AXH, 195 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110317005109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110317005109A), Mar 17, 2011: Bell 230, Abbeville, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot was asked to reposition aircraft to allow another aircraft to land on helideck. While repositioning the pilot allowed the tailrotor to strike a pole used… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78570. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.