# NTSB FTW78FA059: Bell 212, N90223, Morgan City, LA, July 9, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 9, 1978
- Place: Morgan City, LA · MORGAN CITY, LA
- Location: 29.7103° N, 91.1915° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morgan City, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7103&lon=-91.1915&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 7 serious, 4 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140225
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2858   78/7/9  NR.MORGAN CITY,LA     BELL 212            CR-  0  2  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 54, 11113
        TIME - 2137                    N90223              PX-  0  5  4  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1385 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PENROD RIG 31
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MORGAN CITY,LA               MORGAN CITY,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CREW COORDINATION-POOR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- NO LIGHTS OR VISIBLE HORIZON,MOON 1/4 FULL BEHIND TKOF PATH. COLLIDED WITH OIL RIG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90223](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90223-2012-11-19), registration cancelled 2012-11-19, S/N 30712, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Registry model: [Bell 212](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (registry code 1181420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61502, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Penrod Rig 31

## 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 19780709030919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780709030919A), Jul 9, 1978: Bell 212, Morgan City, LA, Destroyed. No lights or visible horizon,moon 1/4 full behind tkof path. Coll with oil rig.

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.
