# NTSB CEN15LA288: Bell 407 - NO Series, N311RL, South Timbalier 127, June 28, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2015, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: South Timbalier 127 - Coordinates: 28.689443, -90.332221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6894&lon=-90.3322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Baton Rouge FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA288 ## Probable cause The pilot's lack of awareness of the severity of the gusting winds, which led to the helicopter being pushed off of the oil platform by a wind gust during engine start. Contributing to the accident was the unavailability of a nearby weather monitoring system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Meteorological services](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03013000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Availability of related info (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 407, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03013000/cases.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03013000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 407, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1182206), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that he had landed the helicopter on the oil platform about 1 hour before the accident. He noted that the weather conditions were deteriorating west and north of the platform; he then decided to depart the platform, which did not have any weather monitoring systems installed. He had initiated the start sequence when a strong wind gust struck the platform and pushed the helicopter off of the raised helideck into the water. Witness reports corroborated the pilot's account, and two of the witnesses reported that the helicopter blades were turning but had not yet reached flight idle speed. If a weather monitoring system had been available, the pilot might have decided not to depart the platform given the gusting wind conditions. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2015, about 1000 central daylight time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N311RL, was substantially damaged when strong winds blew it over the side of the helideck during engine start on the South Timbalier 127 oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot received serious injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The aircraft was registered to GM Leasing Company LLC, and operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Company LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a passenger flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident for an unconfirmed destination.The pilot reported that he landed on the helideck about one hour prior to the accident. At that time he observed that the helideck was slick due to pressure washing activities that were being performed as a result of a recent fire at the platform. He stated that about 20 minutes prior to the accident that he noticed the weather deteriorating west and northwest of the platform and held a meeting with the passengers. A decision was made to depart the platform. He proceeded to initiate the start sequence for the helicopter, and obtain a flight clearance from company flight operations. A strong gust of wind struck the platform and the helicopter began to slide across the helideck toward the safety skirting. The nose of the helicopter began to rise and then the helicopter fell off of the safety skirting and into the water below. During the mishap, the pilot activated the helicopter floats and the life rafts. He was able to exit the helicopter onto the life raft and was picked up by a nearby boat. A weather report from another oil platform about 28 nautical miles east of the accident site included wind from 250 degrees at 26 knots. The platform where the accident occurred did not have any weather gathering devices installed. Witness reports corroborated the pilot's statement that a strong gust of wind struck the platform resulting in the helicopter sliding off of the helideck. Two of the witnesses reported that the helicopter's main rotors were turning, but were not yet at flight idle speed when the gust of wind struck the platform. At the time of the accident the operator had implemented Enhanced Operational Control Level Two. This is an internal control used when weather conditions dictate more positive control of operations. Since the accident, the operator has amended the procedures for Enhanced Operational Control Level Two to require that pilot's receive permission from Operations before unstrapping the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N311RL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N311RL-2018-08-10), registration cancelled 2018-08-10, S/N 53069, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 407 - NO SERIES (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (registry code 1182206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (registry code 03014, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 53069 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 20567.9 - Engines: Allison 250-C47 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Rotorcraft Leasing Company L L C, doing business as Rlc, LLC - Registered owner: GM Leasing Company LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 27, 2015 - Departed: South Timbalier 127, GM - Destination: SS-189B, GM - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,162 total, 795 in this make and model, 5,162 as pilot in command, 187 in the last 90 days, 131 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 26 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KMDJ, 28 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 20150628011409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150628011409A), Jun 28, 2015: Bell 407, Gulf Of Mexico, Substantial damage. During start sequence a strong gust of wind hit the platform and the aircraft started sliding sideways toward the safety skirting. The nose of the aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91484. 4.9 MB in all. - Witness Statements (item 1, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Operator's Amended Operations Procedures (item 4, .PDF, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%27s%20Amended%20Operations%20Procedures-Master.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.