- Date
- May 31, 2000, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Cocodrie, LA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7817SBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 10, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000531010959A
- Case key
- 49322
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the platform's safety fence during takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
As the helicopter began to takeoff from the oil platform, its nose pitched up. Subsequently, the helicopter fell off the right side of the platform, dropping 25 feet onto two crew boats that were tied to the platform's boat dock. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. Examination of the platform revealed that the helicopter's tail stinger became entangled with the safety fence.
Factual narrative
On May 31, 2000, at 0930 central daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N7817S, was substantially damaged when it rolled over while attempting to takeoff from Parker Rig 51B platform located near Cocodrie, Louisiana. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Panther Helicopters, Inc., of Belle Chasse, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 nonscheduled air taxi flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and the intended destination was Belle Chasse, Louisiana.
According to the operator, as the helicopter began to takeoff from the platform, its nose pitched up. Subsequently, the helicopter fell off the right side of the platform, dropping 25 feet onto two crew boats that were tied to the platform's boat dock. The helicopter came to rest on its right side.
Examination of the platform by the FAA inspector revealed damage to the safety fence consistent with the helicopter's tail stinger having been caught in the fence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7817S
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 17
- Airframe hours
- 9,905
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 12, 2000 · 9 hours before
- Destination
- NONE · Belle Chasse, LA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- 51B · Parker Rig
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,800 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 6,800 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HUM, 20 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.
Other investigations on N7817S · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.