# NTSB FTW00LA040: Bell 206L-1, N600CK, Ship Shoal 225, December 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 5, 1999, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Ship Shoal 225 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA040 ## Probable cause The loss of power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the rough water condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor) ## Analysis The helicopter was about halfway to its intended destination in the Gulf Of Mexico, approximately 150 feet above the water, when the engine lost power. The pilot initiated an autorotation to the water and deployed the floats. The helicopter landed 'hard,' but remained upright and afloat. The pilot got the emergency raft from the cabin and inflated it. After getting into the raft, the waves, which were estimated at 6-8 feet, overturned the helicopter, and it sank in 160 feet of water. The helicopter was not recovered, therefore, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 1999, at 0745 central standard time, a Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N600CK, registered to Evergreen Equity, Inc., of McMinnville, Oregon, and operated by Evergreen Helicopters International of Galveston, Texas, sank after landing on the water, following a loss of engine power near Ship Shoal 225, which is located in the Gulf of Mexico. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 nonscheduled flight. The flight originated from platform 89 located in the Ship Shoal 225 area, at 0740, and was destined for a platform in the Ship Shoal 222 area. The operator reported that when the helicopter was about halfway to its intended destination, approximately 150 feet above the water, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated an autorotation to the water and deployed the floats. The helicopter landed "hard," but remained upright and afloat. The pilot got the emergency raft from the cabin and inflated it. After getting into the raft, the waves, which were estimated at 6-8 feet, overturned the helicopter, and it sank in 160 feet of water. The helicopter was not recovered, therefore, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined. Several weeks after the accident, a fisherman recovered in his net, the portion of the tail boom aft of the horizontal stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N600CK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N600CK-2000-11-01), registration cancelled 2000-11-01, S/N 45787 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45787 - Airframe hours: 8960 - Engines: Allison 250-C30P 786 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Evergreen Helicopters, Intl. - Registered owner: Evergreen Equity, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 13, 1999, 70 hours before - Departed: 89 - Destination: SHIP SHOAL 222, GM - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 21,949 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 141 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 12 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °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 19991205043449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991205043449A), Dec 5, 1999: Bell 206L1, LA, No damage. (-23) Pilot departed platform SS225. One mile from platform, a/c engine lost all power. Pilot landed a/c in the water and manned a leferaft. A/c rolled over in… 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.