DFW06IA145

On May 30, 2006, at 1552 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N92MT, registered to and operated by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., (PHI) of Lafayette, Louisiana, was undamaged upon a successful landing on offshore platform Grand Isle 43AA, located in the Gulf of Mexico. A few minutes after landing, ground personnel at the platform found the pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, unconscious. Resuscitation attempts made by an on-site medic and personnel at a local hospital were unsuccessful. The commercial pilot was pronounced dead at 1711 by an emergency room physician. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 flight. The positioning flight originated from shore base Grand Isle Tank Battery at 1542.

There were no reported witnesses to the landing; however, a company spokesman stated that the pilot landed in the center of the helideck, which was unusual because offshore pilots normally land the helicopters to the side of the helideck in order to allow another helicopter to land on the same pad, if needed. Approximately 5 minutes after landing, the company dispatcher located on 43AA went outside and noticed the helicopter was still running, with the pilot leaning over the flight controls. The on-site medic was notified, and after arriving to the helicopter, found the pilot in full arrest. PHI reported that after extricating the pilot, the medic initiated advanced life support (ALS) procedures and advanced cardiac life support procedures (ACLS), without success. At 1640, another PHI helicopter transported the pilot and medic to a local hospital; while en route, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed.

After the 55-year old pilot was removed from the helicopter, an employee called PHI operations to receive instructions on how to shut down the engine on the helicopter. Flight operations provided instructions to a worker at the platform, who was able to secure the engine by closing the main fuel shutoff valve. The helicopter was not damaged.

The 15,563-hour pilot had been employed by PHI since May 29, 1979. He was reported to have accumulated a total of 7,812 hours in the Bell 206 helicopter. Taped recordings of his conversations with the PHI communication center on his last takeoff and landing were reported to be normal.

Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) Forensic and Accident Research Center, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and drugs.

An autopsy was performed on May 31, 2006, by the Jefferson Parish Forensic Center, near Harvey, Louisiana. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with coronary insufficiency. Manner of death was considered to be natural.