# NTSB DFW05CA213: Bell 206L, N330P, Gulf of Mexico, August 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2005, 10:08 local (15:08 UTC) - Place: Gulf of Mexico - Coordinates: 27.633333, -96.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6333&lon=-96.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62260 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62260/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA213 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a stationary object while landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 2,258-hour pilot made his approach to an oil platform, so he would be landing to the east; there was little or no wind. After crossing the helipad skirting, he flared to zero out his groundspeed. After the pilot leveled-off the helicopter, he heard a clunk and saw debris flying. There were no vibrations nor any abnormal indications, prior to the tail rotor contact with the helipad's fence/skirting. The helicopter came to rest in the middle of the platform facing south. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2005, at 1008 central daylight time, a Bell 206L single-engine helicopter, N330P, was substantially damaged when the tail rotor contacted the safety fence while landing on the helipad at the Mustang Island 111 offshore oil platform, located in the Gulf of Mexico. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Air Logistics, LLC of New Iberia, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rule (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight originated from a nearby oil platform, at approximately 1005. The 2,258-hour pilot reported that he made his approach to the platform, so he would be landing to the east; there was little or no wind. After crossing the helipad skirting, he flared to "zero out my groundspeed". The pilot added that afterhe leveled out the helicopter, "I heard a clunk and saw debris flying around me". He reported there were no vibrations nor any abnormal indications, prior to the landing. After the pilot performed an emergency engine shutdown, the helicopter came to rest in the middle of the platform facing south. Photographs of the helicopter revealed the vertical fin was completely separated from the tail boom, and both tail rotor blades were sheared-off near the tail rotor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N330P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N330P-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 51295, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (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: 51295 - Airframe hours: 4971 - Engines: Allison 250-C 30P turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Logistics, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 1, 2005 - Departed: Gulf of Mexico - Destination: Gulf of Mexico - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2004; flight hours: 2,258 total, 245 in this make and model, 185 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20050817023009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050817023009I), Aug 17, 2005: Bell 206L3, Gulf Of Mexico, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Helicopter vertical fin struck heliport safety fence during flare to land on an offshore oil platform located in mustang island, block A111, Gulf Of… ## Other investigations on N330P (1) 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. - [NTSB DFW07LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA169), Jul 22, 2007: Bell 206L-3 (N330P), High Island 138, destroyed. Probable cause: The loss of control as result of the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM during takeoff. 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.