# NTSB DFW06LA072: Bell 222B, N306CH, Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico), February 19, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 19, 2006, 02:00 local (08:00 UTC) - Place: Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) - Coordinates: 28.29, -93.7041666666667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2900&lon=-93.7042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Houston FSDO, NTSB - NTSB case key (mKey): 63243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63243/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA072 ## Probable cause The flight crew's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, and the crew's diverted attention to secondary tasks while preparing for the night landing. A contributing factor was the dark night conditions. ## Analysis The 11,308-hour airline transport pilot and copilot were preparing to land on a brightly lit ship, at night with haze, with a 25-knot wind. With the autopilot engaged, the pilot turned on the landing light, set the parking brake, and extended the landing gear. During the transition, the pilot's attention was turned inside the helicopter's flightdeck to prepare for the ship landing. The copilot was busy looking for paperwork and preparing to assist the ship's crew once on deck. The pilot disengaged the autopilot system and pressed the SAS/ATT (Stability Augmentation System/Attitude Retention System) button to change from attitude mode to SAS mode, when he looked up just in time to see the water. The helicopter impacted the water, and sank in approximately 200 feet of water. The helicopter was not recovered. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On February 19, 2006, approximately 0200 central standard time, a twin-engine Bell 222B helicopter, N306CH, registered to and operated by Central Helicopters Inc., of Houston, Texas, sank into ocean waters following a loss of control while on approach to an ocean vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. The airline transport pilot and commercial rated copilot were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 position flight. The flight originated from the William P. Hobby Airport near Houston, Texas, at 0104, en route to the ship Shaula Star, which at the time of the accident was navigating in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 85 miles south of Galveston, Texas. The 11,308-hour airline transport pilot reported on the Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that he and the copilot had the brightly lighted ship within sight and was preparing to land. The pilot stated that there was a 25-knot wind and haze. He had the autopilot engaged and turned on the landing light, set the parking brake, and extended the landing gear. Additionally, the pilot reported that the copilot was preparing to assist the ship's crew once on deck. The pilot stated that he disengaged the autopilot system and pressed the SAS/ATT (Stability Augmentation System/Attitude Retention System) button to change from attitude mode to SAS mode, when he looked up just in time to see the water. The helicopter sank in approximately 200 feet of water and was not recovered. The pilot added that there was no mechanical problem with the helicopter prior to the accident. A review of the helicopter's Blue Sky flight tracking program revealed the helicopter was en route to the ship at an altitude of about 500 feet. At 08:02 UTC, the last recording, the helicopter was at an altitude of 640 feet, at a speed of 89 knots. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 under the section; Recommendation (How This Accident Could Have Been Prevented): The pilot stated that better cockpit crew resource management and "standardization of crew coordination procedures has become paramount importance due to this very avoidable accident". Additionally, the pilot stated that the helicopter's radio altimeter has a light annunciator, but no audio warning. He added, that the company is seeking to install audio warning signals that activate with separate and distinct tones at 150 and 50 feet. The weather recorded near the departure time by the automated weather observing system at HOU; was wind at 030 degrees at 13 knots, 9 miles visibility, few clouds at 600 feet, overcast sky at 800 feet, temperature 39 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.36 inches of Mercury. The pilot's forecast weather en route was for 10 miles visibility in haze, clouds at 800 feet, and an overcast ceiling of 800 variable to 1,200 feet. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - diverted attention, flightcrew (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N306CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N306CH-2007-04-09), registration cancelled 2007-04-09, S/N 47131, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 222B - Registry model: [Bell 222B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222b) (registry code 1182124) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming LTS-101 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lts-101-series) (registry code 41560, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 47131 - Airframe hours: 6133 - Engines: Lycoming LTS-101 680 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Central Helicopters, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 1, 2006 - Departed: HOU, HOUSTON, TX - Destination: Gulf of Mexico, GM - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 11,308 total, 204 in this make and model, 9,046 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 3,123 total, 153 in this make and model, 2,888 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 320° at 25 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft - Temperature: 37 °F ## 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 20060219001399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060219001399A), Feb 19, 2006: Bell 222B, Galveston, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Helicopter N306CH a Bell 222-B departed houston hobby airport at 0100 local, VFR, enroute to an oil tanker moored in the sabine lightering area… 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.