# NTSB FTW82DA323: Bell 206B, N59504, Grand Isle, LA, August 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1982, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Grand Isle, LA
- Coordinates: 29.240301, -89.980796 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2403&lon=-89.9808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70877
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70877/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA323

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotor drive system,freewheeling unit(other) - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command
  - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS APPROACHING AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM FOR LANDING AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL WHEN HE FELT THE HELICOPTER SHUDDER. HE ALSO HEARD AN ENGINE-OUT HORN AND A LOW-ROTOR-RPM WARNING. HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM, POPPED THE EMERGENCY FLOATS AND INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. HOWEVER, THE FLOATS WERE NOT YET FULLY INFLATED AT THE TIME OF WATER CONTACT AND THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY FLIPPED INVERTED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE OUTER SHAFT IN THE FREE-WHEELING UNIT HAD FAILED AT THE SPLINE AREA. THIS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO GO INTO AN OVERSPEED. THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59504](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59504-2013-05-10), registration cancelled 2013-05-10, S/N 1341, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1341
- Airframe hours: 8027
- Engines: ALLISON C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopter
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopter
- Departed: 0LA5, GRAND ISLE, LA
- Destination: TIMBALIER BLK 2, GM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,485 total, 247 in this make and model, 2,265 as pilot in command, 157 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 181 °F
- Observed at: 18 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820808055229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820808055229A), Aug 8, 1982: Bell 206B, Grand Isle, LA, Destroyed. Engine quit due to freewheeling shaft failure. Pilot made autorotation landing in water near drilling platform.

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.