# NTSB FTW03LA186: Eurocopter EC120B, N162TA, Ship Shoal 80, July 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2003, 11:47 local (16:47 UTC) - Place: Ship Shoal 80 - Coordinates: 28.917499, -91.300277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9175&lon=-91.3003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57468 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57468/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a parked/stationary aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - object - aircraft parked/standing (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that upon arriving at Ship Shoal 80 (SS-80) platform located in the Gulf of Mexico, he performed a fly-by and then proceeded to circle the platform to the right, so one of the passengers could take aerial photographs of another helicopter on the helipad. The pilot further reported that he setup for an approach from the north of the platform and came to a hover 4 to 5 feet above the helicopter-deck to see if there was enough room to land. After accessing the situation, he started to "slide to the left" and ascend. Subsequently, he "heard and felt a bang from the rear of the aircraft, followed by the low rotor rpm horn." Continuing his "slide to the left" to move away from the platform, he lowered the nose to gain forward airspeed. During the descent, he informed the passengers that they were going down and deployed the emergency floats. The pilot stated that the landing "was soft onto the water, and was stable upon touchdown." After shutdown of the helicopter, he initiated an evacuation onto an inflatable life raft. Examination of the helicopter after the accident revealed that the tips of all three main rotor blades were damaged. Further examination of the blade tips and the platform obstructions revealed that the main rotor tip path plane appeared to have contacted the main rotor blade tie-down sock of a parked/stationary helicopter that was in the proximity to where the accident helicopter was hovering. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2003, at 1147 central daylight time, a Eurocopter EC120B helicopter, N162TA, registered to General Electric Capital Corporation, of Addison, Texas, and operated by Texair Helicopters, Inc., of Houston, Texas, was substantially damaged following an in-flight collision with an object near Ship Shoal 80 (SS-80) platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 other work use flight. The flight originated from the Vermilion-22 platform located in the Gulf of Mexico, at 1030, and was destined for SS-80. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that upon arriving at SS-80, he performed a fly-by and then proceeded to circle the platform to the right, so one of the passengers could take aerial photographs of another helicopter on the helipad. The pilot further reported that he setup for an approach from the north of the platform and came to a hover 4 to 5 feet above the helicopter-deck to see if there was enough room to land. After accessing the situation, he started to "slide to the left" and ascend. Subsequently, he "heard and felt a bang from the rear of the aircraft, followed by the low rotor rpm horn." Continuing his "slide to the left" to move away from the platform, he lowered the nose to gain forward airspeed. During the descent, he informed the passengers that they were going down and deployed the emergency floats. The pilot stated that the landing "was soft onto the water, and was stable upon touchdown." After shutdown of the helicopter, he initiated an evacuation onto an inflatable life raft. Examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector revealed that the tips of all three main rotor blades were damaged. Further examination of the blade tips and the platform obstructions revealed that the main rotor tip path plane appeared to have contacted the main rotor blade tie-down sock of a parked/stationary AS-350-BA that was in the proximity to where the helicopter was hovering. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N162TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N162TA-2004-07-01), registration cancelled 2004-07-01, S/N 1001, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter EC120B - Registry model: [Eurocopter COLIBRI EC 120B](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-colibri-ec-120b) (registry code 8680985) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIUS-2F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2f) (registry code 60010, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1001 - Airframe hours: 2414 - Engines: Turbomeca Arrius 2F 504 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Texair Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: General Electric Capital Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 29, 2003, 5 hours before - Departed: VM-22, GM - Destination: Ship Shoal 80, GM - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 21, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 9,790 total, 200 in this make and model, 9,690 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 88 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg ## 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 20030708018589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030708018589A), Jul 8, 2003: Urocop EC120B, Morgan City, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 8, 2003, at 1147 CDT, during a hovering manuever, the main rotor blades of N162TA, a Eurocopter model EC-120-B, piloted by Mr. Patrick charles… 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.