# NTSB DFW06IA145: Bell 206L-3, N92MT, Grand Isle 43AA, May 30, 2006 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · Fatal · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2006, 15:52 local (20:52 UTC) - Place: Grand Isle 43AA - Coordinates: 29.041389, -89.855278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0414&lon=-89.8553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO, Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 63800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06IA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63800/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06IA145 ## Probable cause The pilot's incapacitation and death due to pre-existing cardiac disease. ## Analysis The 15,563 hour commercial pilot successfully landed the single-engine helicopter on the offshore platform. 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. A few minutes after landing, ground personnel at the platform found the pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, incapacitated. The pilot was transported to a local hospital; however, resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. The autopsy determined cause of death to be atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with coronary insufficiency, and manner of death was considered to be natural. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) operating - remedial action - discontinued, pilot in command - incapacitation(cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92MT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92MT-2016-09-21), registration cancelled 2016-09-21, S/N 51175, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-3 - 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: 51175 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: No damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Grand Isle, GM - Destination: Grand Island, GM - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 43AA, Grand Isle, Gulf of Mexico ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: fatal; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,564 total, 7,812 in this make and model, 12,037 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KHUM, 55 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). - [Incident 20060530013389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060530013389I), May 30, 2006: Bell 206L3, Grand Isle, LA. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] landed his BH-206L-3 offshore on platform Grand Isle 43 aa and was found a few minutes later unconscious in the… 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.